Week of June 27

Silly me. I once sought to protect money I was saving by hiding it inside of an encyclopedia under the heading “currency.” It was my childhood attempt to make it too difficult for a “thief” (which was very unlikely!) to steal my money. The problem was that in my zeal to guard my wealth against an outside attack, I failed to prepare my memory to recall the term that I had chosen to safeguard it. Sometimes we overlook the inner responsibility that we all have to preserve the gospel. Paul exhorted Timothy to guard the witness, and he does the same for us today. Let’s learn!

Paul begins our focal passage with the words “But as for you” (ESV) to show that there was to be a direct contrast from the lifestyle and teaching of the false teachers (6:11; cf. 6:3-10). I would think that most of us have some things that we protect at all costs. We may secure physical items with lock boxes or digital documents with doubled-layered encrypted security passcodes. Well, the gospel is gold and Timothy was to preserve it (as we, also) with “his life.” We, like Timothy, have a special calling. There are specific ways that Paul encouraged Timothy, and God’s word encourages us today, to protect the sacred gospel.

First, we are to flee errant teaching, divisiveness, and greed (see vv. 3-10). There have been some high profile international “hacking” and ransomware assaults on important government and business interests in America. These nefarious people were surprisingly able to penetrate the computer systems of companies because of laxness on their parts. They were ill-prepared internally for external attacks. In these verses, Paul advances six virtues that will help safeguard us from harmful moral attacks.

Paul challenges us to strive for six virtues that are listed in three pairs. Each of these traits are needed in our lives in order to remain effective in the ministry to which God has called us. Righteousness means upright conduct before others, while godliness refers to an open and obedient relationship before God. Faith and love mean that we trust in God and show benevolence and goodwill toward others (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Titus 2:2). Timothy, and you and I, needed endurance to maintain “staying power” for the difficult task of ministry, as well as gentleness to handle the “cantankerous heretics and wavering believers” (NAC).

Secondly, having been armed with these graces, we are to “keep up the good fight of the faith” (6:12a). The metaphor can imply boxing or wrestling or running. The entirety of the Christian life requires discipline and perseverance and there will be times when the fight is a specific struggle for the truth of the gospel. The latter portion of verse 12 instructs Timothy to focus on the ultimate goal, which is eternal life. We have this prize in our grasp, but we need to continue toward the goal. Since God had called him (and us), there is more than enough incentive to strive toward that ultimate reward which is eternal life. Wow! These words include a powerful appeal to you and to me, so let’s apply them to our lives.

I cannot begin to imagine the number of hours and the effort needed to qualify as an athlete in the Olympics. So, I researched it! These world-class competitors spend countless grueling hours of training between the conclusion of an Olympic competition and the next one four years later. They must have a plan, utilize healthy habits, and, at the same time, avoid over-training and burning out.

They cross train in order to improve “skills like strength, endurance, agility, and speed” (Healthline). They also emphasize body rest and recovery techniques to regenerate muscle tissue. A recovery plan is essential, and a variety of therapies are used to enable these athletes to remain in top form. They take time off from their intense preparation to permit their muscles to grow stronger and repair. Good nutrition allows these individuals to perform at their peak.

Did you read the recent news about a track athlete that was banned for four years and will very likely miss these Olympic games because of 5 nanograms of nandrolone, a performance enhancer, that was found in her system? The source was a burrito that she ate from a street vendor in her hometown. She very likely is innocent of any intentional wrongdoing, having tested clean for any drugs in 53 previous tests. However, the rules are rules, and something as innocuous as a pork burrito may have jeopardized her hopes of competing. The external agent is now clear, but it was a momentary lapse in alertness that led to the choice that has derailed her career.

Here is a thought for our spiritual growth. Obviously, this devotional is not about improving our memory, as the introduction might suggest, or watching what we eat, as the track illustration might indicate! The point of the combined illustrations is the need to be fully committed to the Christian life. We would say, “Be all in” when living the Christian life. Thankfully, we have the Spirit and the word of God to provide direction and to safeguard our hearts (cf. John 14:16-18, 26; 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

1. Write down several areas of your Christian life in which you may have grown lax. What steps will you take not to expose the sacred gospel to hurtful influences?

2. For families: Do you have any steps or stairs in your house? Here is a reminder to our families to strive without ceasing to “Be all in,” when it comes to following Christ and developing character traits that make for effective ministry. Find three steps, or six, inside or outside your house (staircase, porch, deck) and paint on the riser each of the six virtues of effective ministry: Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Benevolence, Goodwill, Endurance, Gentleness (two to a step if you have three steps, or one word each if six steps). See what this looks like here.

If you would like a less-permanent method, let the kids design paper signs and tape them to the risers instead. Then, as they walk up those stairs each day, they will be encouraged to keep working at the goal of becoming like Christ.

May all your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock