“This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith” (1 Timothy 1:18-19).

Fight the good fight.  To be Christian in our world requires entering a tremendous struggle.  We do not fight flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, and forces of darkness.  Keeping the faith with a good conscience means doing what you do knowing you are always in the presence of the Lord.  Do not reject the faith, nor keep up with the world, but live as the Lord leads and in the direction He is leading you.

Lord, help me to see through the insanity of this world and live according to the goodness and mercy of Your presence in my life.  You know where I have let go and where I need to hold fast.  You know where I have slipped and need once again, your grace and mercy.  You know all that I need.  Help me to look to You as the source for all my needs so that I may now and always humbly abide in You.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always walk with you leading.  Let me not be handed over to the wicked one for giving in to temptation but hold tightly to You and learn from You.  Teach me how to fight the good fight with a clear conscience and help me hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Amen.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

From this verse, we hear the words of the hymn, “Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.”  Scripture is alive with the truth and breathes, even in our singing, the truth of the Incarnation and the grace and mercy that comes forth from God for our benefit is breathed.

Lord, there are so many that have given testimony of Your goodness and graciousness, and I often just go on through life as though none of this matters.  Help me, O Lord, to live into the grace and mercy You have given me that so I would follow closely with You all the days of my life.  You are the One who has made all things possible and only in You is there true liberty and life.

Lord Jesus, You have made the invisible visible and made life from death.  You have come so that all who are in You might now and forever be guided by You, the light that shines in the darkness.  Guide me, O Lord, that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me so that Your light might be reflected through me and that I might shine in this dark world for all to see that You are in me and I in You.  Amen.

“Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

Mercy is not receiving what is due.  We all receive mercy.  Acknowledge the mercy you have received.  It humbles you so that you do not fall prey to the temptation of thinking that these are things you deserve.  We deserve God’s wrath but in His mercy we receive grace upon grace.  It is not a matter of being worthy, but of being called.  You have been called by the Lord into His light.

Lord, this world tells me I deserve so many things.  Lead me away from its temptations so that I may be under Your mercy and grace.  In that sense, it does not matter what I deserve, good or bad.  I am the recipient of salvation by grace through faith. You have made these things true in me, Lord.  I had nothing to do with that.  Help me see this clearly and to live into the new life You have given me by faith.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  In You is all hope.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may now and always humbly abide in the truth of Your great love.  You are love incarnate.  In that love I have received from You great gifts.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may now and always humbly abide in You and You in me.  May I be always thankful for the gifts of grace You have given me.  Amen. 

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy 1:15).

The bottom line: Christ came to save sinners.  We all like sheep have gone astray.  We know that sin brings death.  Therefore, the Good News of the Gospel is that the Savior has come and that all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Lord, this is so simple and rolls off my tongue, yet the truth is that this shatters my illusions of goodness.  I am not good.  Only You are good.  Yet You did not create me evil, nor to remain in sin.  The Savior connects these two concepts so that I would be brought into Your goodness.  Put me on the path that leads to everlasting life, guiding me in Your goodness, mercy, and grace made possible through the salvation in Christ.

Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, Good Shepherd, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that I may not rest in my own thoughts, but let Your thoughts become my thoughts, and Your ways my ways.  Lead me in the faith You have given me so that I would now and forever be in You and You in me.  Lead me into Your salvation, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

“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.