ESOCS Devotional 14 November
TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 4:9-22 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” Titus 2:1 KJV
Doctrine is teaching from God that is about God, and that directs us to the glory of God. This definition provides a helpful anatomy of sound doctrine, identifying doctrine’s source, object, and ultimate end.
Doctrine is among the things that matter most for the well-being of the Christian and the church. Sound or healthy doctrine provides a pattern that, when followed, promotes healthy faith and love. A valuable heritage we should treasure in this generation and faithfully transmit to the next.
Jesus, in Matthew 4: 23, went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom. In Acts 2:42, we read how the people devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles and to fellowship.
Todays’ text tells us the importance of teaching sound doctrine to the various groups that make up the church. What are the doctrines that must be taught and to whom are they to be taught in our present day church?
- We must teach the old men to be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience – v 2.
- We must teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good so that they will in turn teach the young women to love their husbands and their children, to be sensible and chaste, and kind hearted – vs. 4–5.
- We must teach young men to have self-control and to set a good example for all to follow – vs. 6-8.
- We must teach servants/workers to be obedient to their masters/employees, hard-workers and to honour God with their work – vs. 9–10.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The essence of teaching sound doctrine is to deliver us from the snare of false teaching (2 Timothy 2:24–26; Titus 1:9–11), to serve God’s saving work both inside and out outside (1 Timothy 4:16; Matthew 5:13–16; Titus 2:9–10; 1 Peter 3:1–6), and also promote God’s glory.
God loves us and in His goodness, He has given us the good gift of doctrine (Psalm 119: 68) that we might learn of Him and of His gospel and that, we might please Him in our walk.
CHALLENGES
- What are your observations about the teaching of sound doctrine in your congregation? Do these teachings help men to please God in their walk?
PRAYER POINT
- Thank God for the teaching of sound doctrine. Ask Him to help you be an example for others to follow.
FURTHER READING: Job 17:1-16; 19:13-29; Titus 3:1-7
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ESOCS Devotional 14 November
