ESOCS Devotional 9 March 2022
TEXT: 1 TIMOTHY 1:8-11
MEMORY VERSE: “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.”1 Timothy 1:8 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
In about A.D. 64, from Rome or Macedonia (possibly Philippi), probably just before his final imprisonment, Paul, the aged and experienced apostle, wrote to young Pastor Timothy who was facing a heavy burden of responsibility in the church at Ephesus. The task was challenging: false doctrine by false teachers (vs. 3-7), amongst others. No doubt, Paul ended verse 10 of our text saying, “…if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine…” The law is good, but the Ephesian church leaders/teachers were teaching and misapplying it wrongly; so, there was wrong usage by the people. In verses 9 and 10 of our text, Paul went ahead to list some areas (vices) of concern. That was the challenge young Pastor Timothy was facing in the church at Ephesus then.
What are the lessons for us today? First, there are false teachers in our midst (1 Timothy 4:1, 2; 2 Peter 2:1-3). Through false teaching, they cause divisions in the church for their selfish gain (Romans 16:17, 18; Philippians 3:19). The second lesson is that today, many sins have been ‘baptized’ to make them look like they are not sinful; for instance, from Paul’s list in verses 3-7, law breaking and criminality, murder, fornication and adultery, etc. are they not done and treated today in ways that they look normal? He mentioned ‘manslayers’- do we not have the ones they call “slay mamas” today? When you see them, they look innocent, yet “open sepulchers” filled with spiritually dead men’s bones!
How can we identify sound doctrine? The doctrine that Corrects, Reproofs, Instructs, and for Doctrine (C.R.I.D.). We need chosen teachers to teach the gospel; it must not be an ‘all comers affair’, not the case of religious knowledge, but a Bible teacher. Church leaders should note this.
- What attracts you, the wisdom of man or wisdom of the Bible (God)?
- Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding to know the truth.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Philippians 3:17-20; 1 John 1:8-10; Jude 1:10
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ESOCS Devotional 9 March 2022
