2019.08.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Read 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Questions for Littles: What does the apostle call Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11? What does he tell him to do with “these things” (envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings, desire to be rich, foolish and harmful lusts, greediness)? What six things does the apostle tell him to pursue? What does he command him to “fight” (1 Timothy 6:12)? Of what does he command him to lay hold? What has he confessed? Before whom? Now, before whom does the apostle urge Timothy (1 Timothy 6:13)? What is this commandment aiming at for Timothy’s life (1 Timothy 6:14)? When will Jesus appear (1 Timothy 6:15)? What titles does this verse give him? What does He alone possess (1 Timothy 6:16)? Where does He dwell? What can no man do? What rightly belong to Him?

This week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, and Confession of Sin came largely from 1 Timothy 6:11-16.

The Christian life involves fleeing from some things and hotly pursuing other things.

If we trust in Christ to save us from envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings, desire to be rich, foolish and harmful lusts, and greediness, then we are not to be passive about them. We are to run from them.

But there is no neutrality. We don’t run from these by returning to some kind of zero position. We run from them by pursuing righteousness. Chasing hot after godliness. Striving for an ever-strengthening faith. Fostering an ever-increasing love. Actively building patience. Exercising gentleness more and more.

The Christian life is a fight, says 1 Timothy 6:12. Faith is a fight. Not some form of inactivity. In fact, it is often a fight against trusting in our own activity—but that is a fight all the same.

Those who live this way are living out their confession, just as Jesus died out His confession. We confess that Christ is the Lord who died to save us. And we live this way because He is the Lord who died to save us. Jesus confessed before Pilate that He is the Lord who came to die, and He lived out His confession by dying that death.

But He did not remain dead! He is the great and living God-Man, seated on a throne so glorious that we cannot even see Him! And our flight and chase and fight must end in glorious victory, sustained by such a Savior as this.

What part of fleeing remaining sin and chasing hot after godliness feels most like a fight for you right now? How (‘whom answer’!) can you be sure of a good outcome in this fight?

Suggested Songs: ARP130 “Lord, from the Depths” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace!”