1 Timothy 5:11–12 (ESV) — 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their
passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.
NOTE: The phrase
"abandoned their former faith" is curious. We know from the totality
of scripture, that one cannot lose their salvation. A person can choose to back
slide or to abandon the walk of faith. In neither case do you lose your security.
Salvation is a gift given by God that places a person in a covenant that God
has promised will not end. The covenant cannot be broken. Now, in this case, the word for
"faith," pistis can be
translated pledge. In which case, the warning could be related to a commitment
to ministry that she then abandons because of a potential relationship. Another
possibility is that the desire to marry is so great, that the woman considers
an unbeliever. In any case, there is a danger expressed here, not unto
salvation, but toward the individual widow. A believer faces irrevocable
decisions in life. They can't remove the seal of salvation given to us upon
belief, but they can have serious consequences on our life, length of life, and
even heavenly reward.
PRAYER: Father,
protect me from the dangers of the world. It is always trying to pull me away
from devotion to Christ. It is always trying to entrap me in some activity or
relationship that can do great harm to my relationship to you. Protect from the
evil one's traps. Deliver me from evil.
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