1 Timothy 6:20-21
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from godless, empty talk and the contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge.” By professing it, some have veered away from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Paul’s warning to Timothy is still appropriate today. People, using their logic and knowledge, attempt to outwit Your word. “Did God really say?” They turn to their and others’ opinions to justify their sins rather than admitting, confessing, and turning away from them. People twist Your Word to be what, as Paul said, “what itching ears want to hear.”
Faith is knowing our sinfulness, coming to the cross for forgiveness, and knowing that Jesus paid our ransom with his life. Faith unites us with You; it turns us away from the sins that want to divide us from You. We will continue to have moments when we fall to temptation, and at those times, we turn to You for pardon.
Thank You for giving us Your commandments to curb the world from running amuck and living completely lawless. We also thank You for the fact that we can use them as a mirror to look at ourselves to see how we fail to love You and others as we should; there, we see our need for our Savior. Finally, we thank You for giving us Your commandments so that by faith, we have them as a guide or a compass showing how to love You and others.
Please send us Your Holy Spirit to guard our hearts so that we are deterred from that empty talk of the world’s knowledge and cling to Your love, grace, and mercy. Let us share the truth of Your Word with those who do not know or trust in You. May Your Word change their hearts so they, too, will see the extent You have gone to make salvation possible for them. You sent Your Son to die on the cross for them and us so all will have eternal life and salvation through faith in Jesus. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Opinions are suitable for a house’s color or hairstyle (but those can also be questionable.) The truth about salvation and eternal life should not be left to an opinion but to God’s word because, in His Word, he tells us it is about faith in Jesus and forgiveness of sins, leading to salvation.