1 Timothy – Week 7 – Day 3

READ 

1 Timothy 4:14-15 

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 

Timothy was not to think that God would do everything through him without any effort on his part. Paul tells him not to neglect the “prophecy spoken over him” by the elders (another word for the “church leader” or “overseer” in 1 Timothy 3:1) of the church. Apparently someone announced this prophecy over Timothy, and the others laid hands on him to recognize what had been done. Paul urged Timothy to throw himself into his work so others would see his development. 

REFLECT 

How is it with you after trusting in Jesus for salvation? Do you expect Him to do everything through you without any effort on your part? This is not what Paul had in mind for Timothy. 

RESPOND 

For your study of spiritual gifts, read 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Notice that every believer has at least one gift. Notice also why these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit.