December 4 Daily Devotional

1 Timothy 1–6

Timothy was Paul’s beloved disciple and efficient fellow worker. He was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother (Eunice) of Lystra. Timothy was converted on the apostle’s first missionary journey. Paul took him along as a companion in his work on the second journey. He was a great help to the apostle. Paul wrote to the Philippians from Rome, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.”

Timothy enjoyed the full confidence of Paul. Sometimes when the apostle himself was prevented from visiting congregations, he sent Timothy in his place. Paul entrusted to him the congregation at Ephesus, the most important church in Asia. In his first epistle to Timothy the apostle writes, “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do … This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief … This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare … And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory … Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come … But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content … But thou, O man of God … fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God … and before Christ Jesus … that thou keep this commandment without spot.”