Daily Walk Through the New Testament

January 21
Read 1 Timothy 6:1-21

In our passage today, Paul describes how believers can have godly attitudes in many areas of life, giving clear instructions of things to avoid and to pursue. We are to avoid pride, excessive arguing, envy, and strife (vs. 3-5). We are to be free of the love of money and greed and be content with what God gives us (vs. 6-10). We can’t take earthly riches to heaven, so the Father instructs us to send treasures ahead by investing our personal resources — time, talents, and gifts (including money) — to the cause of Christ.
Paul says in vs. 11-12, to “Flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life”. We are to respect authority figures, consent to the words of Christ, and be content (vs. 1, 3, 6). We are to be motivated not by selfish gains, religious approval, or pressure from others, but by our love for God. As we aim to live a life that pleases Him, we are to study and apply God’s Word and walk by the Holy Spirit.
This humble state of godliness described in today’s passage is the condition of the soul that Jesus exhibited during His 33 years on earth. Imitate your Savior and Lord today. Recognize and confess your sin regularly to help you remain in this blessed state, and remember that everything you do in this godly condition and in His Holy Spirit will be blessed here and rewarded in heaven.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

January 20
Read 1 Timothy 5:1-25

God’s family — not a framed building — is called the church. We are an organism, not an organization. We are the bride of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and a representation of God to the world.
1 John 4:8 tells us God is love, and as we show His character to the world in our relating, He wants us to treat all members of the body with love. As we read this list of do’s and donuts in 1 Timothy 5, we must keep in mind God’s greatest commands to us are to love Him with all we are and to love others as ourselves. Paul gave believers practical ways to honor and serve each other in this chapter because it is so important we do it! Love, as Colossians 3:14 reminds us, is what binds Christ’s body together.
It has been said that real love heals people; everything else eventually hurts them. Do you know any hurting souls who are far from God? Give them a glimpse of God’s love in all your interactions with them and pray they will come to faith in Christ and receive God’s powerful, personal, agape love for them. Are you struggling in some kind of conflict with another believer? Ask God to fill your heart with His unconditional love and grace and to help you pour it out to that person. God is love, and He wants His family to be people of love.
Praise God He has given us His Love Letter, that He leads us in loving, and that He “keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

January 19

Answer the following questions regarding your readings from this past week:

1.) Every believer has been entrusted with at least 1 spiritual gift. Our spiritual gift often combines our heart, abilities, passions, and experiences. Do you have a sense of how you are gifted spiritually? How are you developing that gift? What are some ways you could deploy that gift for God’s glory?

2.) A bodybuilder cannot reach his training goals, without using the tools of weights, diet, and exercise. What tools has god provided to help you in your spiritual training? Are you putting all the tools at your disposal to good use?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
January 18
Read 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16
In his prime, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the greatest bodybuilder in the world. At his best, he could bench-press 440 pounds and squatted 470 pounds. In contrast, consider Billy Graham. Even on his best day, he could never come close to matching Arnold’s physical prowess. However, while Arnold devoted himself to physical training as a young man, Billy devoted himself to godliness. As he neared his 100th birthday, Billy’s body was weak & feeble, but his godliness far surpassed that of his youth. Arnold, on the other hand, can no longer bench press the 440 pounds of his prime, and the older he gets the weaker his body will become.
Paul commended to Timothy the value of exercising himself toward godliness because godliness draws us closer to God and prepares us to spend an eternity with Him. Godliness also benefits those who are around us. Paul charged Timothy to be an example “in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (4:12). These traits are the fruit of a life devoted to godliness.
No doubt, Arnold has been an inspiration to many aspiring bodybuilders, but in the end he will lose all that he worked so hard for (Mark 8:36). But, Billy, has made an eternal impact upon millions through his ministry and godly example.
Are you following Paul’s charge to Timothy? Nurture your relationship with God and pursue spiritual growth in Him. Make training in godliness your priority in life!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
January 17
Read 1 Timothy 2:1-3:13
Paul makes the assertion in 1 Timothy 2:5 that there is only one God. As Christians, we often take this truth for granted, but it is a foundational truth for what we believe. In this passage alone, we see several implications of that truth.
First, since there is one God, He determines how people can make their way to Him. We do not have the freedom to choose the terms of our relationship with Him. 2:5-6 make it clear that God has provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only Mediator between God and man. The implication for believers is that we must share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and pray for the conversion of souls. There is no other way to be saved.
Second, since there is one God, we do not have the freedom to choose how we will run His church. 2:9-3:13, a passage about men’s & women’s roles & church leaders, tends to be controversial. Christians may disagree over what the Bible means in this instance, but we do not have the freedom to ignore the Bible altogether. In other words, we are bound by God’s Word. He has the right to determine the qualifications for the leaders of His church.
God’s authority extends to every aspect of our lives. We are subject to His Word and His will. But this is good news: because He is a good & loving God, “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Take joy in submitting yourself to the instruction and wisdom of the one true God.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
Read 1 Timothy 1:1-20                                  January 16
When we think about the apostle Paul, we picture an outspoken, brave, and driven man who stood strong for Christ in spite of beatings, imprisonment, and conflict. He was the church’s John Wayne. In Paul’s letter to young Timothy, however, we discover a different picture of Paul. We see a caring mentor who shared his life with a fellow believer despite the hardships and activity in his life. Paul’s letter to Timothy serves as a blueprint for us as we share our lives with others.
Paul was a transparent mentor. In (1:12-17) he shared how God can use someone with an ugly past for His glory. Paul was not hiding or bragging about his past; he simply used it as an example of God’s patience and grace. In Philippians 1:12, Paul wrote, “I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”
Paul was a caring mentor. He warned Timothy to be on guard against false teachings and ideas that would lead him away from Christ. He understood the importance of truth. He carefully & intentionally guided Timothy to truths that bring freedom and protected him from lies that destroy. Paul was also an encouraging mentor. In (1:18-19), he expressed his faith in Timothy to fight the good fight and stay close to God. He based his faith in God. We find a great expression of this faith in Philippians 1:6, when he told believers he was confident “that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Follow Paul’s example and take time out of your hectic schedule to mentor people God has placed in your life.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:18                          January 15
Sometimes doing good begins to feel like work — hard work. We get criticism instead of compliments. We are handed another to-do list instead of a trophy for our accomplishments. We wish we could sit this one out and let someone else carry the load. In 3:13, Paul warned believers about this ministry fatigue, saying, “Do not grow weary in doing good.” Instead of counting on our own strength and patience, we have to follow Paul’s key strategies for overcoming ministry fatigue.
The first key is focusing on God and trusting Him to do the work through us. When we stop focusing on God, we rely on ourselves and grow weary. Instead, we need to “stand fast” (2:15) and allow God to fill us with the strength we need to do His work. Isaiah 40:31 promises that “those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”
Another key is to read and study the Bible. Paul instructed believers to “hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2:15). Paul was referring to the Word of God. We must never forget that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When you grow weary in doing good, look to God and His Word to renew your strength!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

January 14
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12

In today’s passage, Paul took the opportunity to address some concerns the  Thessalonians had about the Second Coming of Christ. The church at Thessalonica had slipped into fear because they had believed some false information about the end times. In fact, some of them even thought they had missed the return of Christ!
We, too, can so quickly fall prey to fear in our own lives. The antidote to fear is faith, and the way God grows our faith is through a steady diet of His Word (Romans 10:17). When you hear folks teach on the end times, much emphasis is given to the role of the Antichrist. It can generate fear in believers. The Antichrist may play a role in end time events, but not a leading role. The leading role is reserved for Christ. Paul told us in 2:8 that Christ will overthrow the Antichrist with just “the breath of His mouth”!
What other false beliefs do you have that are generating fear? Do not be “shaken in mind or troubled,” and “let no one deceive you by any means (2:2-3). Instead, expose those false beliefs by studying the truth of God’s Word and clinging to it. When you do, those fears will be destroyed, and you will begin to live in greater levels of freedom.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

January 13
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28

Don’t you love watching the final few minutes of a close football game? Many times you will see every player on the team hold up 4 fingers as the third quarter ends and the fourth is about to begin — it’s a sign to communicate that everyone on the team realizes time is running out. Teams seem to pull out all the stops as the game comes to a close. No matter how tired the players are, they put forth maximum effort. Coaches seem to call more aggressive plays as they realize that it is now or never.
In 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Paul wrote about the certain return of Jesus Christ to end this present age. In light of the certain return of Christ, we as believers ought to live like we are in the last minutes of the fourth quarter of the game. We know time is running out. The God of the universe has revealed what will take place, and He has commanded us to be ready.
If we are ever going to live our lives on mission for Christ, now is the time. It’s now or never! Figuratively, let’s raise 4 fingers into the air to declare that we will live with focus and energy, like we are in the fourth quarter. Let’s be on mission today for Christ with a renewed passion and urgency in light of His certain return.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
January 12

Answer the following questions regarding your readings from this past week:

1.) What does it mean to you personally when you read the phrase, “Christ in you,             the hope of glory” in Colossians 1:27?

2.) How have you “grown up” in Christ recently? How do you think you might             need to grow in holiness in the future? Writ a prayer asking God for                      conviction and guidance and expressing your willingness to be sanctified.