“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight” 1 Timothy 1:18
Fight the Good Fight – 1 Timothy 1
When I graduated from college armed with my shiny new teaching certificate, I landed a sweet teaching gig. I worked at a huge suburban elementary school in a good school district. When I say huge, I mean over a thousand students. In fact, I was one of two full-time music teachers at this one elementary school, and we had a traveling teacher who came in and taught a few music classes too.
Inexperienced and In Charge
I only had to plan for the kindergarten, first, and second grade classes because the other music teacher taught the third through fifth grades. Three preps for a music teacher is unheard of! Many of the music students I graduated with were taking positions where they had to teach kindergarten through twelfth grade in a small town just to get a job.
Big shoes to fill
So, I should have been clicking my heels with glee at my new job. However, I was super nervous at first. It had very little to do with how prepared I was or how many preps I would be doing or learning the names of 500 children that all looked alike. It had everything to do with who I would be following and who I would be working with! The teacher I was replacing was retiring after many, many years at that school – he was a legend that everyone loved! The other full-time teacher was nearing retirement and was also well-known and respected.
Here I was, fresh out of school and having to follow and be observed by such amazing and experienced music teachers. It was intimidating and a little overwhelming.
I can relate to Timothy
I can imagine that that is how Timothy felt. He had been traveling with Paul, learning and training with this great apostle, and then Paul leaves him in charge of the church at Ephesus. He has to follow the apostle Paul and pastor Christians who are older than he is.
Timothy is feeling in over his head and Paul sends a letter of encouragement.
I Timothy 1:1-2 –
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope: To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Getting back on track
Paul reminds Timothy that he is in Ephesus for a specific purpose. The people in the church there were getting derailed from faith in the saving power of Jesus by arguments and false doctrines, speculating about things that didn’t matter rather than developing Christ-like hearts, minds, and actions.
“As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion.” 1 Timothy 1:3-6
Timothy’s congregation
The people in Timothy’s church wanted to become pastors/teachers, but they are not teaching doctrine that is true. God’s word is good, provided people are not distorting it to serve their own purposes or using it to contradict the gospel of Jesus Christ. The men in Timothy’s congregation seem to think that they should have his job – probably because they are older than he is and have been in the community longer. However, they have not been traveling with and learning the law and the gospel from the apostle Paul. They are teaching the wrong things.
“They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.” 1 Timothy 1:7-11
All glory to Jesus
Paul’s letter would not just have gone to Timothy but would have been read to the church at Ephesus. He knows enough about human nature to know that the people in the congregation would not react well to these criticisms. So, Paul gives his credentials for the correction he is about to bring to the people who are causing problems in the church. Paul gives all glory to Jesus and His mercy for what he has been able to accomplish in spreading the gospel.
“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Fight the Good Fight
Paul ends this first chapter of 1 Timothy with a charge – Fight the good fight! Timothy feels like giving up. He is overwhelmed and frustrated. He is weary of choosing to do the right thing. Paul encourages him to remember the prophecies that were made about Timothy. To use those prophecies (what God has said about Timothy) to stir up his faith so he can keep going in his calling. Some of the men at Ephesus have abandoned the faith and are stirring up division.
“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.” 1 Timothy 1:18-20
1 Timothy 1 Action Step:
We can learn from Paul’s words to Timothy. How many of you, like me, have had a year that feels like a fight? This past year brought challenges, losses, and conflicts that completely blindsided me. At times I have felt overwhelmed and frustrated and like giving up.
At those times, I can stir up my faith by remembering what God has said about me. With my faith stirred up, I have the strength to keep going even when discouragement rises in me. I fight the fight not through my own strength but by remembering who God is and what He has said about me.
I am made in God’s image.
“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27
I am loved by God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17
I can do all things through God’s power.
“I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
I am never alone. God is always with me.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
I have the Holy Spirit inside to empower, teach, and comfort me.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
I am an overcomer.
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4
I am designed by God to do good.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
I am blessed.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” Ephesians 1:3
God says these things about you too! Stir up your faith and encourage your spirit when you are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Write them on notecards or print out the printable cards in the Devotion in Action Resource Library and put them up where you will see them regularly. Don’t give up – especially when you don’t feel like it!
Share your thoughts in the comments on this post or under the 1 Timothy 1 post at www.facebook.com/devoinaction or tag me @devoinaction on Instagram – I’d love to hear what you think and see pics of your Bible journaling! Use the series hashtag #dia1timothy
1 Timothy 1 Prayer:
Dear God, Thank You for all You say about me! Like Paul, I know that it is only through Your mercy and not anything I have done. Like Timothy, I sometimes become overwhelmed and discouraged. Thank you for Paul’s instructions to Timothy that speak to me today. Help me to stir up my faith and never give up. In Jesus’ name, amen.
If you want to see other posts in this series, click here for the series overview page:
For access to the free printables to use in Bible art journaling, click here: https://www.devotioninaction.com/resourcelibrary/
Get access to all the awesome, FREE stuff:
If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!