June 22, 2015 (2 Kings 8-9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16 NLT)
Observation: Paul worked hard to encourage Timothy and instruct him in the areas of life that could easily trip him up. Notice Paul didn’t tell Timothy to rest in the grace of God and not to worry about his life in Christ, but on the contrary Paul encouraged Timothy to keep a close watch on how he lived and what he believed! Paul knew many were trying to distort the gospel of Christ and that Timothy had to keep a close watch on what he believed in order to keep him from falling into sin. A corrupt belief system easily leads to a corrupt life. It was important for Timothy to keep a close watch on these areas of life for the sake of his salvation, and the salvation of those that heard him. Staying true to what is right is essential in living the Christian life.
Application: We live in an era where anything, and everything, is acceptable to think and believe. Standards are created within one’s own mind and should never be questioned or condemned by anyone else. We no longer have to keep a close eye on how we live because we haven’t kept a close eye on what we believed. Satan has easily led us astray by using his original tactics he used in the Garden of Eden. He simply corrupts our belief system and our corrupt actions soon follow. As a Christian our beliefs should align with the Word of God completely. If our beliefs differ from what God’s eternal word proclaims then we have forsaken God’s word and have a corrupted belief system that will ultimately lead us astray. The only way we can stay true to what is right is if we know and believe what is right. Even then we must keep a close eye on how we live and what we believe.
Prayer: Dear Lord, teach me what is right. Let my beliefs be established upon Your Word. Open my blinded eyes that I may clearly see and believe what is right. For the sake of your salvation help me keep a close watch on how I live and believe. In Jesus name, Amen!