“Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:13b-14).

Mercy is not getting what you deserve.  We all deserve death because we have all sinned, but we receive mercy and therefore we are given a new life.  This is not permission to carry on with our old life, but grace for a new life to learn to be like Jesus.  Do not live in unbelief but live in faith and learn the law of love.  Come into the presence of Jesus and be guarded by Him to live to become like Him.

All things work together for good for those who love the Lord.  He will keep your mind upon the good things He has in mind for You.  Do not be led astray by the insanity of this world but keep in the light and life He gives first in mercy and then abundantly in grace.  His grace is more than sufficient for you.  The abundance of faith and love are yours in and through the Lord.

Lord Jesus, this is a crazy world and in unbelief, I act according to the world’s standard all too often.  Help my unbelief so that I may walk in You and in You alone.  Guide me in the Gospel way in order that I may now and always be guarded against the insanity around me to live into Your love.  In You is all hope and an eternal and glorious future.  Take me from ignorance to joy in knowing You this day.  Amen.

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” (1 Timothy 1:12-13).

It does not matter what you were.  It matters Whose you are now.  Do you belong to yourself or to the Lord?  This is a fundamental question that must be answered if we are to be faithful.  Live the life, not the lie.  Walk with Jesus and do not pretend that you can live both in this world’s rebellion and as one who follows Jesus.  In the Lord, you will be strengthened to live by faith through this present age.

Lord, prepare me to live as You would have me live.  I have been a blasphemer and one who willingly nailed you to the cross.  Your grace is sufficient.  Guide me Lord in the way of living so that I would now and forever look to You as my rock, strength, shield, and fortress.  Bring me under the shadow of Your wing and, no matter what happens to me in this world, in You I will always be safe.

Lord Jesus, You have come to unite us with You.  Either we are, or we are not, for there is no neutral ground.  Guide me, Lord, to see that in You is all hope, not some hope, but all hope.  Lead me into the way of everlasting life in order that I may now and always abide in You knowing that You are abiding in me.  Put me into service and use me as You know I can be used for Your kingdom.  Amen.

“[A]ccording to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted” (1 Timothy 1:11).

How will you live your life?  Will you live according to the Gospel?  You also have been entrusted with the Gospel.  Will you live according to what you have received?  Will you look to the Lord and follow Him in a world that is going in another direction?  These are some of the fundamental questions we need to answer if we are to be faithful to the Lord and follow Him.

Lord, Your Gospel frees me from the insanity of sin.  Your Gospel guides me in the way of truth.  In and through You all things are possible, but not all things are profitable.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may walk with You and follow where You lead.  You have blessed me with an abundance beyond measure.  Guide me, Lord, to know that in You is all hope and the only future worth having.

Lord Jesus, You have come and paid the price so that we may walk humbly with You in freedom.  Guide me, Lord, to know that in You alone is all hope and the future.  You have called me into that future through grace.  Lead me, Lord, in that grace to live out Your glorious Gospel in this age, being a witness to the transforming power of Your life and mercy.  Teach me to entrust myself to You now and forever.  Amen.

“[A]nd immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching” (1 Timothy 1:10)

There are many who practice deceit.  Whether it is deceiving oneself, or others, it is not living in the truth.  Ultimately, it is a matter of one’s service and the question of whom they will serve.  It will be either themselves, or God.  That’s the bottom line.  Paul is not speaking hatred but pointing out the reality of what these kinds of behaviors reveal about the person who practices them.

In our age Lord, as You know, it is not correct to say these things of others.  This world has rules which often fly in Your face.  I need help, Lord, to live in this age and to hold fast to what is true.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may walk with You and in Your ways.  Help me to see right from wrong and to live by what is right.  Help me to be gracious and merciful to all, but to live according to Your Word.

Lord Jesus, You have confronted all of these things and know them well.  We sinners do what we think is right in our own minds and we hurt others.  Lead me, Lord, to walk the narrow path through all of these things so that I may learn from You what is good, right and salutary.  Help me each day to better understand how to live faithfully in a world that is steeped in the practice and acceptance of sin.  Amen.

[R]ealizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers” (1 Timothy 1:9)

When one is in love, they do not need to think about doing what is right to show love.  They just do it.  The law is similar.  When one loves the Lord, they just do what is pleasing to the Lord.  It is for those who do not obey and want what they want apart from what is right that the law is written.  This is an important thing to remember, because the one who focuses on the law is focusing upon themselves.

Lord, I know in my mind what is right, but my heart is often far away.  Lead me, O Lord, away from myself and into You.  Guide me to have the right focus on things.  Help me see what I need to see and not be focused on anything other than You.  Let the law of love govern all that I do so that I may be focused upon You, my Lord, God and Redeemer.  In You alone is there hope.

Lord Jesus, all of these things You have said.  I hear them over and over again, and yet I have the same problem.  Teach me to love You and my neighbor and then the law will apply itself.  Let me not be governed by my desires, but by what You have done.  Lead me into holiness so that I may live all the days You give me under and in the law of love.  Guide me to not be unholy or profane.  Amen.

“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully” (1 Timothy 1:8)

The Law is good.  The problem for sinners is using the law as it is supposed to be used.  We often put twists on it and call ourselves good.  Rules are rules and they apply to everyone or they are useless.  Therefore, subject yourself to the law knowing that it is good.  Submit to Christ knowing that the grace He gives is what is needed.  The law is good, but grace is what saves you.

Lord, I watch and see that so many are living as though the law was what saved them.  I know it is not.  Your grace through faith is what saves.  Help me to see that I have been freed from striving to get it right, in order to learn from Christ how to be like Him and from the heart live what is right.  Guide me by Your Spirit that I would understand this significant difference and live according to grace.

Lord Jesus, You did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it.  Help me, Lord, to understand that apart from You I can do nothing, but with You I can do all things.  Guide me, Lord, in Your mercy and grace to live the life You have given me.  Lead me to do what is right in love and not by obligation.  Teach me to do all things lawfully and not as the world does them.  Amen.

“For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions” (1 Timothy 1:6-7).

Please note that this is also what is happening today, Timothy was instructed by Paul to avoid some others.  Solomon was right, there is nothing new under the sun.  The law does its job when we are rightly convicted and come under the condemnation that is rightly ours.  We then repent and fall upon Jesus, and in Him and Him alone we have hope.  We are saved by faith, not works.  Avoid those who wrangle over the law.

Lord, this sounds so simple until I too start wrangling over the law.  You have come to save us, and we all need saving.  Lead me, Lord, so that in You I would have the hope which is mine through grace.  Guide me now and always to see through all those who do not tackle the real issue – our sin – but seek to justify sin with legal pronouncements.  Guide me in the Gospel truth always.

Lord Jesus, You alone have been able to lead the perfect life.  You alone were able to perfectly do the Father’s will.  You alone were able to pay the price, not for Your sin, but ours.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of the Gospel so that I would not fall into the temptation of telling others how you do this, but would tell them that You have done this for them.  Lead me to be a witness to the Gospel and hold to the Truth of Your testimony.  Amen.

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).

The goal of our faith is to become like Jesus.  The way toward that goal is from a pure heart and a good conscience.  With faith, one can hold fast and stand firm.  It is important to learn what this means and to apply it in your life of faith.  It has been the same since the beginning for everyone.  Come therefore and listen as the Word gives you good instruction.

Lord, You know all that is needed.  You know what I need.  Lead me by Your word so that I would understand, know, and follow the instructions of what You tell me and do them.  Help me to have ears that hear and a heart that is willing to receive so that I would go in the direction of Your leading on the narrow road.  Through all things, keep me firm and steadfast in the way of faith, with a good conscience and a pure heart.

As the Psalmist said: dear Savior, “Create in me a clean heart and renew in me a right spirit.”  I want what I want, but You are Lord and it must be as You determine.  Lead me this day to do what is right.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I would humbly follow where You lead.  In and through all things, teach me by Your word the upward way of truth in order that I may live into the life You have given me.  Amen.

“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:3-4).

By grace through faith we are saved.  So many want an explanation when the mysteries of the Lord remain mysteries.  The Lord has saved us by grace and we are called to live in that faith.  Yes, people have come and gone, and they will in the future.  Yes, events have happened and there are more to come.  Listen to what the Lord has done for you and live into the life which is Yours in Him.

Lord, why do we make things so complex?  Why do we always look for answers that will change nothing, though they may satisfy our curiosity?  Guide me, Lord, to know that in You is all hope.  In You is salvation.  Teach me what it means to live by faith.  Lead me to trust You above all things and, even if I enjoy the seeking of answers, to never let that search replace the faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set me free from the captivity of this age.  Help me to not replace one captivity for another.  Guide me in the way of life so that I would learn to be satisfied with all that You have given me.  Teach me to not follow the way of the world, but the narrow way that You set before me.  In and through all things, lead me, O Lord, into this new life You have given me.  Amen. 

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Timothy 1:2).

Are you a true child of the faith?  This is a legitimate question.  It gets to the heart – literally.  Our prideful self says, “Of course.”  But do we really spend time in introspection and open to the Lord and seek to have the Holy Spirit search our soul?  Grace, mercy, and peace come from God.  Be led by the Holy Spirit to know this and to truly become a child not of Paul, but of the Father.

Holy Spirit, You know all that is before me and what yet needs to happen.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of true faith so that I would not avoid all the difficulties, but come fully into the faith by Your leading.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I be led today and help me face whatever I need to face tomorrow that I would grow in those directions where I need to grow.  Help me now and forever to truly live in faith.

By Faith, Scripture tells us, the men and women of old lived and became the examples we read about in Your Word, Lord.  Lead me, Lord, wherever You will lead me and help me to be content with wherever that is.  Through all that comes my way this day, help me to stand firm and be strong in You.  You alone are the Rock of my salvation and I need You to guide me each step of the way.  Amen.