1 Timothy 1

Life has been hectic, today I began my final overview reading of 1 Timothy. The commentaries have been read and put away, notes have been taken; now it is simply me, the Bible, and whatever God decides to show me after all of that.

Today I'm amazed by the simplicity of this. Paul begins his letter with the point, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1.5). The goal is love, and it comes from a pure heart, from a heart that has been cleansed from sin. We show love in relationships with others and those relationships come with a good conscience, a life that has nothing to hide and is in good standing with people. Love, the source of love is God, and we receive love with a sincere faith. Through a relationship with God we know what love is and we are able to share love. Love is the point, and it's through relationships that we achieve the goal.

We had the law, but the law isn't the point. The law is there for those who are not in relationship with God. The law is for people who live in broken relationships with others, as the list of verses 9-10 shows. The law is there to show them what sin is, it is there to show them their need for God. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus we are set free from the law and empowered to live by love. In love relationships are healed and restored.

And then there is the best part, verse 12, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service". Christ is the one who has put me into His service. He has strengthened me to do it, and He considers me faithful for His work. It's all about Him, it's all dependant upon Him. I'm just a tool He decided to pick up and use for this part of the project, His weapon of choice for this phase of the battle. What is His work? Love and love in relationships.

This is so important that Paul says to Timothy, "fight the good fight , keeping the faith and a good conscience," He says fight for the relationships. First fight for the relationship you have with God. Get it, and don't ever let it go, because in that you have love. Fight for the relationships with others. Show love to them, even those who are unlovable. Fight for love, fight for relationships. That is the good fight. The work of Christ is to spread the Gospel, and we can only share it with those we know.

The goal is relationships, first with God then with others. In relationships there is love. Love is the message of the Gospel.

Peace be with you