Pray: 

Jesus, let me see the look of love in Your eyes as You look upon Your beloved. Win my heart completely.

Read: 

1 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Reflect: 

What would onlookers think about God by seeing your life?

In addition to explaining exactly why Paul is writing to Timothy, verse 15 tells us that God is alive and present in the church. They are people "of the living God." In times of worship together, we should recognize God at work among us, and hopefully non-Christians will too. The difference between an ordinary, boring meeting and thrilling, life-transforming worship is the presence of "the living God" (2 Cor. 6:16). Let's pause to praise him for being a living, active presence in our congregations.

The church holds tight to the truth of the Gospel ("the pillar and foundation of the truth," 15) and shares it with the wider world. Its focus is Jesus ("the mystery," 16). See how much of the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, mission, and return of Jesus you can find in the "hymn" of verse 16.

"But the false teachers don't hold to the truth," says Paul (4:1,2). They twist the good things God has created (Gen. 1:31), turning them into something bad (1 Tim. 4:3). Just like the serpent in the Garden of Eden ("Did God really say...?" Gen. 3:1).

Apply: 

Be diligent to ensure that Jesus is at the center. Whether you are teaching or being taught, Jesus is the only hope.

Pray: 

God of hope, thank You that You have brought Your church together as a family.