Page 1096 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_10_MacArthur_Bible_Oct.qxd 8/8/03 16:59 Page 1077

OCTOBER 26
7
doctrine which you have carefully followed. But
reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exer-
8
cise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exer-
4:6 nourished…words of faith…good doc- cise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for
trine. Continual feeding on the truths of all things, having promise of the life that now is
Scripture is essential to the spiritual health of and of that which is to come. This is a faithful
9
all Christians (2 Tim. 3:16,17), but especially of saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this
10
spiritual leaders like Timothy. Only by reading end we both labor and suffer reproach, because
the Word, studying it, meditating on it, and we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of
mastering its contents can a pastor fulfill his all men, especially of those who believe. These
11
mandate (2 Tim. 2:15). Timothy had been things command and teach.
doing so since childhood (2 Tim. 3:15), and 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an
Paul urged him to continue (v. 16; 2 Tim. 3:14). example to the believers in word, in conduct,
“Words of faith” is a general reference to in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come,
13
Scripture, God’s revealed truth. “Good doc-
trine”indicates the theology Scripture teaches. give attention to reading, to exhortation, to
14
doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in
you, which was given to you by prophecy with
4
believe and know the truth. For every crea- the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
ture of God is good, and nothing is to be 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself
refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for entirely to them, that your progress may be
5
16
it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing
you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, this you will save both yourself and those who
nourished in the words of faith and of the good hear you.
DAY 25:What specific instructions did Paul give Timothy
that would apply to a young person?
A young person seeking to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ can find essential guidelines in
4:12–16,where Paul listed five areas (verse 12) in which Timothy was to be an example to the church:
1. In “word”or speech—see also Matthew 12:34–37; Ephesians 4:25,29,31.
2. In “conduct”or righteous living—see also Titus 2:10; 1 Peter 1:15; 2:12; 3:16.
3. In “love”or self-sacrificial service for others—see also John 15:13.
4. In “faith”or faithfulness or commitment, not belief—see also 1 Corinthians 4:2.
5. In “purity”and particularly sexual purity—see also 4:2.
The verses that follow hold several other building blocks to a life of discipleship:
1.Timothy was to be involved in the public reading,study,and application of Scripture (v.13).
2.Timothy was to diligently use his spiritual gift that others had confirmed and affirmed in a
public way (v.14).
3.Timothy was to be committed to a process of progress in his walk with Christ (v.15).
4.Timothy was to “take heed”to pay careful attention to “yourself and to the doctrine”(v.16).
The priorities of a godly leader should be summed up in Timothy’s personal holiness and pub-
lic teaching.All of Paul’s exhortations in vv.6–16 fit into one or the other of those two categories.By
careful attention to his own godly life and faithful preaching of the Word,Timothy would continue
to be the human instrument God would use to bring the gospel and to save some who heard him.
Though salvation is God’s work, it is His pleasure to do it through human instruments.

neither he nor his servants nor the people of
OCTOBER 26 the land gave heed to the words of the LORD
which He spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son
Jeremiah 37:1–38:28
of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of
Now King Zedekiah the son of Josiah Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah,
37 reigned instead of Coniah the son of saying, “Pray now to the LORD our God for us.”
Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of 4 Now Jeremiah was coming and going among
2
Babylon made king in the land of Judah. But the people, for they had not yet put him in
1077