email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

August 31, 2018

1 Timothy 1:5-7

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

New International Version (NIV)

   “The Bible has always been for me a meeting place with God.” From the time I heard Jack MacGorman say that I knew two things. First, I understood why all of his former students loved him despite his reputation as a tough tester. Second, I knew somebody else saw the Bible the same way I did.

                Paul took the scriptures seriously as he will later explain to Timothy. “All scripture is God-breathed.” Later, Peter would call Paul’s own letters “scripture” (2 Peter 3:15-16). Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him to lead the leaders in the church in Ephesus. Led by the Spirit, Paul gives us a gift by explaining the purpose of teaching in the church. It turns out that the goal of instruction is love!

                In our hyper-competitive world, we might have thought the goal of teaching was to prove that we are right and others are wrong. Not so. The goal is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. As teachers of God’s word what we really want is to produce love in our listeners because God himself is love. This love has ethical and theological antecedents. God wants us to have pure hearts because as Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God” (Matthew 5:7). About a good conscience, John Wooden wrote, “There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.” Love also emanates from sincere or unhypocritical faith.

                This is exactly why we teach the Bible from the pulpit and in print. In fact, this is the goal of my sermon this Sunday at Tallowood and every Sunday at Tallowood. I want to join you in loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. And I pray we will love our neighbors as ourselves. This is a good goal for all of us!

Pray with me:

Father, teach us the truth we pray so that we may love you and others more. Give us pure hearts that we may see you. Cleanse our consciences through the sacrifice of your perfect Son. May our faith in you be authentic. Reveal and remove our hypocrisy we pray. Remind us again that correction and instruction are the way to life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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