Scripture to Read: 1 Timothy 4:9-10
As we begin 1 Timothy 4:9-10 today, we read that God says, “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.” So, what is the “trustworthy statement?” What God shared with us in verse 8, that “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Walking a godly life is what we are to do every day. How do we live godly? God tells us in 1 Timothy 4:10, “…we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” As we saw yesterday, we have to choose to spiritually work out every day. God says we must “strive and labor,” so we know it’s not easy. We must stop making excuses for not reading, studying, and memorizing God’s Word. Once we stop living according to our excuses and choose to start spiritually working out every day, we will see miraculous spiritual growth in our lives. We will recognize God's fruit in us, and we'll take notice of how He uses us to share His fruit. God never wants us to become complacent (self-satisfied) in our Christian life. If we’ve lost our hunger for God’s Word and for fellowshipping with Him, then that is our fault. We have lost that hunger because we have chosen to allow the garbage of this world to fill our lives. We must die to our flesh, pursue Christ and His Word, teach these things to others, and urge everyone to learn them.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about living the Christian life each day?
2. How are you striving and laboring each day to grow in your knowledge of God and His Word?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!