1 Timothy – Week 7 – Day 2

READ 

1 Timothy 4:13 

13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 

Notice the mention of the Scriptures being read to the church. Believers then did not have access to copies of the Scriptures as available today. The Scriptures had to be copied by hand and passed to someone who would read it to others. Paul wanted Timothy to focus on three things: 1) publicly reading the Scriptures, 2) encouraging the believers, and 3) teaching the believers. The Scriptures provided the basis for all of this. 

REFLECT 

Think how privileged you are to have a copy of the Scriptures available, whether in printed form or by technology. It is not necessary to wait until someone else reads to you. Today it is also common to hear the Scriptures read on your smart phones. 

RESPOND 

In the second letter Paul wrote to Timothy, a key verse is found in 2 Timothy 2:15. The way a believer can be one who “correctly explains the word of truth” is by spending time in the Word of God, and being open to being taught by others. Do you have a mentor who has known the Lord longer than you and can be spiritually helpful to you? Are you being a mentor to someone who knows less than you?