Day 71

1 Timothy 1-3

I was a part of an ordination of a friend recently. We went through an extensive process that assured all involved, his council, family, and the church, that he believed and could defend the Bible on many key doctrines. The process was very reassuring to me. It is very important that any one in the ministry knows how to correctly handle the Word of God. In today's reading Paul warns Timothy of some false teachers that had turned from teaching sound doctrine to empty or vain speaking. These teachers weren't teaching the sound doctrine that saved people from living empty and corrupted lives.

It is essential that the church does two things concerning false teaching. We need men and women that will confidently teach sound doctrine and that will boldly commit to know and practice sound doctrine. The first is a given in our church. The second is the variable. Everyone in the church needs to know and practice sound doctrine. Our level of committment to knowing and practicing the Word will determine the level of real meaning and purpose in our lives. So, how committed are you to knowing and practicing the Word? What you believe about the core doctrines of your faith will directly affect the meaning and purpose of your life. If you want life to be empty or vain, then neglect the Bible. But, please check out in 1 Timothy 1:9-10 to see what your life could be filled with.

Sound doctrine isn't only for the professional ministers or the teachers in the church. It has the power to keep us from living a life completely contrary to what God expects and desires for us. Knowing and practicing the Bible will save us from a lot of unnecessary pain in life.