SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 4-6
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)
If life is the pursuit of… something, what is my life is the pursuit of?
Comfort, riches, pleasure, power, reputation, good looks, success, revenge?
Everyone will have their own variation on what their goal looks like, but it usually contains one of these.
Paul is urging Timothy to pursue God and God’s agenda, to be ‘man of God’.
What Paul describes – righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness – looks like Jesus.
To be a Jesus-like person, to make these qualities our passion and priority.
He warns against the pursuit of “foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (6:9)
People think they are pursuing happiness, and end up in misery.
The way to happiness is through the pursuit of righteousness, every other path leads to disaster.
Paul describes the pursuit of the Jesus life in Timothy’s setting, in Ephesus.
If he were to write a letter to you, applying these same principals to your setting, what might he say?
As you work, as you relate to your family, as you deal with your pressures, as you face your challenges?
This is our everyday challenge, what it means to be real life disciples.
The Lord will not tell you specifically what to do, but He will guide you by His Spirit, and through others…
If you make His kingdom and His righteousness your pursuit.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see that the ONLY way to happiness is to pursue You and Your righteousness!
Observations/Application
Stay the path. Listen to the Voice saying, ‘This is the Way. Walk in it.’ Hope in the living God and continue the living for Jesus. Continue always in the Way. Stay true. Be diligent. Be people of integrity. Be a living testimony to the Way.
Look after one another. Oneanothering is living the Way – living for Jesus. Be a living light. Do good. ‘Take Hold of God and Pull.’ He is the Source of all things. Stay the course doing His will.
Focus.
Jesus is the answer.
Share the Good News.
Do good.
Help me Lord to live the Jesus Way always.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Refrain
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Refrain
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
Refrain