1 Timothy 4
Video interviews can be powerful tools
to reveal current trends and opinions. I
have often been fascinated, entertained, or frustrated by man-on-the-street
interviews that allow people to display their thoughtfulness … or
ignorance. (Recently I saw a clip done
on a college campus asking students what they thought of Benghazi, one student
replied, “I’ve never heard of him.”)
While these video clips put the spot
light on an individual, we are all on display every day as God’s people. Jesus says that we are the light of the
world. A city on a hill cannot be
hidden. How should we respond to such a
revelation?
First, we recognize that if we are
light, it is because God made us so. In
the redemption we have in Jesus’ death and resurrection we moved in status from
being in the darkness of the sin to having the light of Christ in us. This is a gift from God and it is to His
glory that our lives as forgiven sinners are on display. We are both messengers and examples of God’s
grace … not examples of perfection, examples of people who have received
grace. So we walk in the light.
Second, experience tells us that we
would rather be perfect than forgiven, and if we can’t be perfect, we want to
be better than others, and if we can’t be better than others, we’ll settle for
being perceived as better than others.
This is a terrible temptation to bear.
Concern for this attitude is at the heart of Paul’s comments to Timothy
regarding self-imposed restrictions and irreverent silly myths. Paul warned Timothy, and warns us, be devoted
to reading Scripture, to not neglect the gift we have been given, and to keep a
close eye on ourselves and our conduct. We
will be tempted to think that salvation is all about us.
Paul’s goal is not that Timothy would be
able to say, “Look I did it all,” but rather that we and Timothy would be
rooted in the truth of our sinfulness and salvation. The Word of God grounds us in God’s
grace. The Law tells us there is no hope
if the basis is our conduct, and the Gospel shows us that the basis of our hope
is Jesus’ death and resurrection, even as it delivers the benefits of Christ’s
work to us!
Lord, root me in Your salvation and help me
to never be pulled from You by the idea that my works make me better than
anyone. Amen.
Comments