DAY 1 –
NOVEMBER 28
TITLE: “THE
LIVING GOD”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:9-16
DAILY
SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “…(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our
hope in the living god, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those
who believe.” I Timothy 4:10
Sir Isaac Newton was an English physicist,
mathematician,
astronomer,
natural philosopher, alchemist,
and theologian
who died in 1727. He has been considered by many to be the greatest and
most influential scientist who ever lived. Isaac Newton said, “The true God is a living, intelligent
and powerful Being. He governs all things, and knows
all things that are or can be done.” God is the living God. The psalmist wrote,
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living
God…” Psalm 42:2. Psalm 84:1-2 says, “How
lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
The Prophet
Isaiah recorded an event that took place in the life of King Hezekiah. He
received a threatening letter from Sennacherib, king of Assyria. King Hezekiah
took the letter and went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before
the Lord. He then poured out His heart in prayer to the Lord Almighty. Listen
to part of his prayer. He prayed, “O Lord
Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over
all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O
Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to all the words
Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.” Isaiah 37:16-17. In
contrast to the god of Sennacherib, the God of Hezekiah is a living God. The
angel of the Lord then went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five
thousand men in the Assyrian Camp. King Sennacherib then broke camp and
returned to Nineveh. The scripture records that while worshipping in the temple
of his god, Nisroch, two of his sons cut him down
with a sword. Esarhaddon, his son, succeeded him as king.
We serve a
living God. One of the favorite Old Testament Bible stories of all time is undoubtedly
Daniel in the Lions’ Den. If you remember the story, King Darius had been
tricked into issuing a decree that anyone who prayed to any god or man except
him was to be thrown into the lions’ den. Because Daniel was faithful in prayer
even though the king tried to stop it, he was thrown in the lions’ den. Early in the morning, the king went to the
lions’ den and called out in an anguished voice saying, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve
continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel 6:20. Daniel answered
that God had sent his angel to protect him. King Darius then wrote another
decree. He wrote to all the people saying, “I
issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence
the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom
will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.” Daniel 6:26. Where is
your hope today?
DAY
2 – NOVEMBER 29
TITLE:
“SET AN EXAMPLE IN SPEECH”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:9-16
DAILY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:11
KEY
VERSE: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
I Timothy 4:12
A
cartoon punch line read, “No matter what you teach the child, he insists on
behaving like his parents.” Every one of us is an example setter. Paul was
writing to a young minister by the name of Timothy. Some say he would have been
between 35-40, and in that culture, anyone under 40 was a young man, so there
was hope. He was telling Timothy it was time to step up to the plate and be an
example to the family of God. The Phillips translation reads, “See that they
look up to you because you are an example…” He was to be a model of what the
faithful are. He was being challenged to take authority to do what he was
called to do.
The
principle of being an example flows through Scripture. It is a principle that
is very real for every Christian who is serving the Lord. The body of Christ
needed examples then and they need them now. Paul
called Timothy to set an example for other believers regardless of his age. He
was to set an example with the consistency of his life.
One person who had the reputation of setting such an example was
Will Houghton. He was president of the famous Moody Bible Institute during the
1940’s. Before Houghton became president of Moody, he pastored
a church in New York City. The story is told that an agnostic living there was
contemplating suicide, but he decided that if he could find a minister who
lived what he professed, he would listen to him. Since Will Houghton was a
prominent figure in the city, and a pastor, the man chose Houghton for his
case study. He hired a private detective to watch him. When the investigator's
report came back, it revealed that Houghton's life was above reproach. The
agnostic went to Houghton's church, accepted Christ, and later sent his
daughter to Moody Bible Institute. Will Houghton set forth an example that made
a difference.
Timothy was to set an example in speech. The word ‘speech’
used here includes teaching and all other forms of speaking. Paul wrote to
Titus, “In everything set them an example
by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and
soundness of speech that cannot be condemned…” Titus 2:7-8. Speech must be wise, whether in
public or private life. The words we speak provide opportunities to set an
example of what the faithful follower of Christ looks like. Words are not just
words; they are revealers of the condition of the heart. Matthew 12:34 says, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be
good, or make a tree bad and its
fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers,
how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the
heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew
12:33-34. The words we speak should set an example for believers to
follow.
DAY
3 – NOVEMBER 30
TITLE:
“SET AN EXAMPLE IN LIFE”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:9-16
DAILY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:11
KEY
VERSE: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
I
Timothy 4:11
Yesterday,
we looked at setting an example for believers in speech. Paul continues on to
say that Timothy is to set an example in life. God calls His followers to live
a life others can look up to. Diane Snedaker wrote,
“So set your standards high and keep them high, even if you think no one else
is looking. Somebody out there will always notice, even it
it’s just you.”
The
life we live sets an example. Paul is teaching Timothy and all of us as
Christians that we are to use our lives as teaching tools. This word ‘life’
speaks of our conduct and behavior. In our dealings with people and situations,
we are to live so others will see how a follower of Christ lives. Paul wrote to
the Philippians, “Whatever happens,
conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of
Christ…” Philippians 1:27. And, he wrote to the Ephesians, “As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you
to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1. It’s not just our own lives
that are on the line. As Christians, we need to be careful how we live because
our lives impact others. We cannot say, “How I live is nobody else’s business.”
Our manner of life or behavior must honor God.
John
Henry Newman prayed, “Lord, shine in me and so be in me that all with whom I
come in contact may know thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no
longer me but only Jesus.” He was
talking about living a life that served as an example for others. A life that
reveals Christ in all we do.
Some
time ago, I read an article about scientists who studied a native tribe in
South America whose people have been dying prematurely for generations. After
thorough investigation, the cause of premature death was determined. The
disease was transmitted by an insect that lived in the walls of their adobe
homes. This new information presented several options. They could move to
another area where such insects don’t exist, tear down their homes and rebuild
them, use insecticide to rid their home of the bugs, or, continue as they have
and die early. Surprisingly, these people have opted to remain as they are and
do nothing about their problem. Many people behave similarly. To save
themselves, they know what they must do; instead, at the time, they opted to
remain unchanged.”
Through
the power of Christ, behavior can be changed. Paul wrote in Philippians, “I can do everything through him who gives
me strength.” Philippians 4:13. The Word of God is full of lives that were
changed by the power of God. Churches are full of lives that were changed by
the power of God. Through Him, we can live a life that sets an example for
others to follow.
DAY 4 –
DECEMBER 1
TITLE: “SET
AN EXAMPLE IN LOVE AND FAITH”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:9-16
DAILY
SCRIPTURE
KEY
VERSE: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
I Timothy
4:11
We continue
our focus on being an example by looking at the areas of love and faith. Love
is more than a feeling of the heart; it is an act of the will. It is
unconquerable benevolence. It is a love that impacts the decisions we make. In the Old Testament,
the story is told of two women who came to King Solomon with one living baby,
both claiming the baby was theirs. The wise King Solomon instructed that the
baby be cut in half so both could have half. The woman who was not the real
mother agreed. The one who was truly the mother of the child, out of love and filled
with compassion for her son, said, “No, give the child to her so the child will
live.” She was compelled by love. Her decision was guided by love.
The Apostle
Paul is instructing Timothy to be an example in love. Hundreds of years ago,
the theologian, Augustine asked, “What does love look like?” He went on to say,
“It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and
needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”
The Apostle Paul said, “Love is patient,
love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not
rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fail.” I Corinthians
13:4-8.
Paul also
instructed Timothy to be an example in faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1. Faith is that which lays
hold upon the strength and wisdom of the unseen, yet ever-present God and is
thereby enabled to do great things. Faith believes God is going to accomplish
things not seen. Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and
the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” Author, Ruben Alves said “Hope is hearing the melody of the future. Faith
is to dance to it.”
To set an
example in faith is to live a life that exposes faith in Christ through our
attitudes and actions. It is to live a life that reveals an unwavering loyalty
to Christ. To be an example of faith is to be faithful to Christ in a way that
causes others to put their faith in God. Bible commentator and theologian,
William Barclay said, “A saint is someone whose life makes it easier to believe
in God.”
DAY 5 –
DECEMBER 2
TITLE: “SET
AN EXAMPLE IN PURITY”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:9-16
DAILY
SCRIPTURE READING: I Timothy 4:11-16
KEY
VERSE: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
I Timothy
4:11
As we
conclude our devotions for this week, I wanted to focus one more time on being
an example. Today’s theme is on being an example in purity. The word here means
‘purity of act and thought’ or, in other words, ‘moral cleanness and
spotlessness.’ The psalmist said, “Who
may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his
soul to an idol or swear by what is false.”
Psalm 24:3-4.
God desires that
His people live a life of purity. James wrote, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world.” James 1:27. Purity is saying ‘no’ to that which is
impure and ‘yes’ to that which is pure. It is possible through His transforming
Spirit and power.
My father was
a steel worker who spent a large portion of his life working at Kaiser Steel in
Fontana, CA. He worked in what were called the “Coke Ovens” and he would come
home black from the coal dust and dirt. He worked in a dirty environment and
the dirt of that environment would be all over him. However, there is something
that impressed me about my father when he came home working in the dirty
environment. His heart always seemed to be clean. He did not bring home the
junk of that environment. He lived out a godly, pure life in that dirty
environment. His life was an example in purity. You can be an example in purity
through His cleansing and purifying power.
Purify my heart, let me be as gold and
precious silver
Purify my heart, let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire, my heart's one desire is
to be holy,
set
apart for you, Lord. I choose to be holy,
set apart for you, my master, ready to do your will.
Purify my heart, cleanse me from within and make me holy.
Purify my heart,
cleanse me from my sin,
deep within. (Brian
Doerksen)