1 Timothy 1:18-19 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, English Standard Version (ESV)
In yesterday's post, I ended with a stanza and chorus from the hymn "Brighten the Corner" and a line that stuck with me for a while was "someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar". Trying to get a grasp of that I came up with a picture of a ship that had been at sea and needed to get back into the safe harbor. A lighthouse may give a beacon showing where the harbor was but there could still be sand bars and reefs in the way. Without knowing the surroundings, it would still be possible to run the ship aground even with the harbor in sight. Paul was familiar with that and had himself been shipwrecked and survived.
In today's verses Paul is serving as that one "who brightens the corner", in this instance, for Timothy. He is encouraging the young pastor to fight the good fight of faith, "holding faith", clinging to it and encouraging him not to be swayed in the seas of changing opinions. Paul admitted to being a sinner, who himself had been saved by grace and that sin need not wreck your faith.
Faith is mentioned two times here, the first time being subjective, continuing to believe the truth as a personal matter and the second is objective, the content of the Christian gospel, what we have come to know, trust and believe. That is our call too, to hold onto what we believe and to take another line from yesterday's hymn – "not wait to shed your light" your faith afar to, brighten the corner and bring to harbor someone that needs help in avoiding the sandbar and possible shipwreck. Paul started the passage with an example of breaking the ice and starting the conversation:
"Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy." 1 Timothy 1:15 The Message
Blessings,
Mike
1 Timothy 1:15-20The Message (MSG)
15-19 Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.
Deep honor and bright glory
to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
ever and always. Oh, yes!
I'm passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in.
19-20 There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
15-19 Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.
Deep honor and bright glory
to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
ever and always. Oh, yes!
I'm passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in.
19-20 There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
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