Monday October 3, 2022

I can not believe it is already October! The year is moving by quickly, and we must be about the Father's business. Today we are continuing out look at the Pastoral Epistles. If you have not read my previous two entries, I would encourage you to do so.
1st Timothy 1:5
5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul gives warning to be on the lookout for false teaching, as well as silly, fruitless, and vain distractions. It is for sure there are plenty of these things in our churches today. This Sunday I will address some of them and give a few examples. That said, it is important to remember (in regard to all that Paul lists) vs. 5. Paul had a genuine love in his heart for the people at Ephesus. He did not want to see them led astray. No doubt Paul was angry and frustrated...but his concern  came from a place of love and a pure heart. This is where I believe it is so easy to go wrong. When and if we feel the need to address a false teaching or teacher, it must be done correctly-and from the correct motivation. It should never be in a mocking or sarcastic manner. I've fallen into this trap more than once when confronting someone or something that is "out of bounds." Too often people approach "correction" with a sense of pride and arrogance. 
We must all "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling," there is a time and place for all things. If I am hyper-focused on always correcting others, then I am often failing to look at myself. The key word here is "BALANCE." God Bless, I will continue these thoughts in a day or so.