Month: January 2025

1 Timothy 6:3-5 NKJV

After Paul encouraged servants (Christian slaves) to honor and obey their unbelieving masters that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed (v.1), he told them to respect their believing masters; they are followers of Christ so serve them well (v.2). 

Then Paul addressed godliness. On a prior occasion he urged Timothy to command others that they teach no other doctrine (1 Tim.1:3). “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness (v.3), he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions (v.4), useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself” (v.5).

Paul said that anyone not teaching sound doctrine does not agree with the godly teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sound doctrine is spiritual healing and health; Jesus came for those that are sick. False teachers cause division in the body of Christ; they disagree with Paul’s teachings, and he said they would be dealt with. They are rebellious against truth and do not desire solid and healthful food. Paul described them as self-conceited and spiritually ignorant – not knowing doctrine which is according to godliness. They are deprived of truth and believe that godliness is a means of gain. Paul urged believers to withdraw from them. 

Today, lift your voice and give God glory!

1 Timothy 6:1-2 NKJV

Paul began verse one with encouragement to bondservants, Christian slaves, to count their own masters worthy of all honor and respect so that the name of God and His doctrine will not be blasphemed or slandered. Because they were in a relationship with Christ, Christian slaveswere expected to be obedient to their earthly masters and treat them in a manner that pleased God. Yes, they were slaves, but they were Christian slaves; therefore, their character was to exemplify that they were followers of Christ. Christians are to always behave so they can bring glory to God and “give no occasion to the adversary to speak shamefully” (1 Tim. 5:14b) against them and God and His teachings.

In verse one the apostle instructed Christian slaves to be an example of godliness, letting their living reflect their behavior as followers of Christ. God is just in all His doings; He does not show respect of persons based on who they are or from where they come. In Scripture Jesus demands believers to love one another as He has loved them so everyone will know that you are His disciples. That’s the message Paul had for the Christian slaves toward their masters – believing or unbelieving.  

He continued in verse two, declaring that Christian slaves who have believing masters are not to despise them because they are brothers in Christ and should treat each other with love and kindness. Rather, they are to serve them diligently because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Paul encouraged Timothy to teach and exhort these things (v.2).

Lift up your voice and shout, “Glory!”

1 Chronicles 16:7-13

The day David brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to Jerusalem, he delivered this psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren (v.7): 

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name, and proclaim to the whole world what he has done (v.8)! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; talk of all His wonderful works (v.9)! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord” (v.10). Here, David encouraged the people of God to rejoice and give glory in His holy name. Also, he urged those who worship the Lord to declare all His wonderful acts and what he has done in their lives. The ark of covenant was in Jerusalem, and this was a time for believers to celebrate God’s goodness.

David continued to urge them to pray and call on the name of the Lord, toseek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore (v.11)! We need the Lord; He is our strength, and we don’t have the power to do anything without Him. We must trust Him, and as Jesus commands: we are to first and most importantly seek His kingdom and His righteousness(Matt. 6:33a). Worship Him and “Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth (v.12), O seed of Israel His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones” (v.13)! Give thanks to the Lord and sing Him praises.

Lift your voice and shout “Glory!”

Romans 8:1-5, NLT

Paul begins this chapter declaring that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus because they who are in Christ do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (v.1). They live obedient lives to allow the Holy Spirit to develop and empower their relationship with God to fulfill His purposes. “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).  

Believers have become united with Christ Jesus; they believe in Him as their personal Lord and Savior. “And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed youfrom the power of sin that leads to death (v.2). Because of man’s sinful nature, the law was powerless to overcome it and could not save us. So, God sent his only begotten Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins (v.3). He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit (v.4). Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit” (v.5).

In 2025 be more grateful every day that God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Rom.5:8).

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”