Walking the paths of life can be difficult and treacherous. It can also be uplifting and exciting. There are curves, bumps, twists, and turns. The scenery can be calm, chaotic, serene, and tragic. The unknown of each step meets us with every event we go through. But the biggest question I have is, “how do I behave in a way that honors both God and others?” Paul seems to lay it out extensively in his letters. One of the letters to his student, Timothy, sums it up concisely. And it all has to do with your foundational belief.
You cannot build your life on a wave. You cannot build your life on a shaky foundation of twigs or toothpicks and expect it hold the weight of the twists and turns of life. Your faith must be build on the Rock that is Jesus Christ. Only He can sustain you in all that life throws at you.
As I have shared previously in prior posts, I have multiple sons including two teenagers and one coming up in age after them soon. I have a young adult son who is trying to figure out life and where to go from here that is successful. I have a husband who is struggling with his faith and life in general. The responsibilities of children, work, an ailing parent, and financial obligations have eclipsed our relationship. In this season of his life, I am supporting him through it. Working together in unity is the only way to live through stresses and hurdles in life. I also have cancer, which has been so very difficult, not only physically but financially as well. The chemotherapy drains me and what very little income I have. And, there is no time to rest when I have five guys relying on me to do my part in keeping this home running and unified. These are some very strong willed guys. Not to mention multiple obligations to pouring myself for the edification of the church. And last of all, the emotional toll of isolation from my extended family who lives hundreds of miles away. I do not share this to garner any pity as we all have things that weigh heavy on us. I simply share some of my heaviness with you to show that we need a foundation of faith that can withstand all of it, and I do mean ALL of it.
How do we live rightly without buckling under the pressure of it all? How can we withstand succumbing to the weight of stress and struggle? The answer to me lies in 1 Timothy. Paul is writing this letter to Timothy advising him about some issues that were being presented in the church in their behavior. Timothy was in Ephesus, and there were many false teachers leading the people in false doctrine. It doesn’t state exactly what the false teachers were teaching, but it does indicate that it had something to do with speculation about the law (1:7-11) and asceticism (severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence typically for religious reasons) (4:1-5).
In First Timothy, Paul starts out, after saying ‘hi’, confronting the false teaching. Then, he describes living in the gospel and the leaders of the church. He states in 3:15 that we, “the church of the living God,” have a responsibility to promote and protect the gospel, “the truth.” Then, he goes on to identify the false teaching followed by a more detailed and focused teaching on specific groups within the church. Finally, he reiterates the false teaching and closes the letter. He specifically states the purpose of his writing in this passage:
"I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:14-16 ESV)"
Paul was imprisoned in Rome and released before this letter was sent. Shortly after, he was imprisoned for the second time. It is important that we teach others that are faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ how to teach others. Paul could not be at every church to share the wisdom that the Spirit was imparting into him. We don’t follow Paul; we follow Jesus. Only the Spirit of God can be with us everywhere. So it is important to place your faith where it rightly belongs, and that is in the gospel. Paul shares with Timothy – and subsequently us – the “mystery of godliness,” which is the entire content of God’s revealed plan of salvation, in verse 16. Our behavior flows from what we know, and what we know is the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
“He was manifested in the flesh.” The Gospel of John says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).” He took on the physicality of human kind and experienced all of the human attributes and struggles. The eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, infinitely holy Son of God took on a human nature and lived among humanity as one who was both God and man at the same time. Only God could do this. He dwelt among us. He now dwells among us via His Spirit dwelling within each believer.
“Vindicated by the Spirit.” Some also render this as “justified by the Spirit.” The Spirit is a true witness and only speaks truth. There is no falsity found in Him. The vindication and justification came from the resurrection.
“Seen by angels.” His victory over death and sin was displayed before heavenly beings, the angels. The absolute joy went through heaven at the finality of the plan of salvation made available to all who believe. Like mighty roaring crowds exponentially multiplied, the sound would be deafening to humankind.
“Proclaimed among the nations.” This meant that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Great ‘I AM’, Jehovah, El Shaddai, the Living God, was shared with the Gentiles. Not only would the Jewish people be God’s people, but God made a made a way for ALL people to enter into the family of Our Great Father.
“Believed on in the world.” And the Gentiles received the Good News of Jesus. They accepted the way to the Creator of the universe, life, and everything. God mercifully gave His only begotten Son for us all. To proclaim the gospel is to bear testimony to the saving act of God in Jesus Christ. When we share the gospel with an unbeliever, they have a choice of whether to believe in the saving grace of God or to reject it. He is “glorified in his saints” and “marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV).
“Taken up in glory.” This refers to Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Acts 1:1-11 is the reference passage for this last line. It says, “he was taken up, after he had given commands though the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen (v. 2).” “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of the their sight (v. 9).” “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven (v. 11).” Jesus ascended into heaven, but that is not the very end.
Jesus will come back. And we do not know the hour or the day. Until then, we hold tightly to the gospel sharing it wherever we go with whoever will listen. This is the foundation on which we live our lives. This is the core, true doctrine of our faith. And this leads to right living.
Gotta fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 