Devotion for July 13, 2008

Stay Focused

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself [to be] a pattern of good works; in doctrine [showing] integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. [Exhort] bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all [things], not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Titus 2:1-10 NKJV)

Paul gives Timothy some wonderful advice here. He doesn’t expound on the doctrines of grace or challenge his thinking with supralapsarianism. Instead he tells him to focus on the fundamentals. “Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”

That is not to say believers should not search out the deep things of God. To the contrary, search out the deep things of God, but do not forget to live out the obvious and teach others to do the same. Many have their heads full of knowledge, but never turn a good deed.

What profit is it if you know what supralapsarianism means, and you don’t know how to love your wife, raise your children, or have integrity? Those whose religion consists of information only give the enemies of Christ opportunity to speak evil.

Meditate on the character qualities listed in the verses above. See if you live up to the standards on which Paul told Timothy to focus. Let us love the deep things of God, but let us live as if we love God for He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15 NKJV).