Quote for the Day
“Keep yourself pure.”
Today's Prayer
This week pray that God continues to show you His purity and how you can trust Him alone for yours. Pray this week for those away from family, that they might remain pure as they focus on God’s will for their life.
1st Timothy 5:17-25
1st Timothy 5:17-25 (NIV)17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
Message
This week Paul lays it on thick to Timothy about Timothy’s responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of those in leadership positions in the church. He makes it clear that the standard is very high. At first this small phrase seems buried amongst the rest, but in fact it is the very foundation of the entire chapter. Nothing else matters if we cannot, as Timothy is commanded, “Keep yourself pure.” We can focus back to the other thoughts Paul discusses about favoritism, fairness and respect, but the one that stands above all is keeping oneself pure. In this age of lost integrity and almost daily news of failed leaders, a leader who truly is pure stands out like a lighthouse. Our respect is given to those who are pure in thought, words and deeds. Paul understood that this is foundational; we cannot influence anyone without being pure.
