1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV) — 20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid
the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
21 for by professing it some have swerved from the
faith.
Grace be with you.
NOTE: Paul's last
comment to Timothy is to repeat, for probably the fourth time, the warning
against false teachers. After studying through this book, two things stand out.
The false teachers' teaching was worthless, babble, etc. The effect was at best
not good (vain) or at worse produced dissension and quarrelling and worldly
behavior. The contrast is teaching that produces something good -- godliness.
Simply defined, godliness is becoming like God and it is a discipline that
achieves better results than physical training in terms of good for the body.
What is this spiritual discipline? Well it is all the spiritual disciplines
like reading and praying, but I think it also specifically refers to applying
God's word -- application. Otherwise, if we are just hearing, we are deceiving
ourselves. Godliness happens when we are regularly applying the word of God to
our lives. It is the most glaring weakness of the church on earth today. People
attend services. But, people don't change. Teachers teach good things, but
don't encourage application. That is really vain teaching. It makes no impact.
Father: As I pray
this morning, give me insight in how to encourage application. How do I teach
people to be doers? What do I need to give to them or show them? Maybe I need
to create an application worksheet to hand out -- give me ideas Lord. I desire
your church to develop godliness through the discipline of application of the
word of God to their life.
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