OUR MOTIVATION FOR ADVANCING GOD’S WORK
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. —I Timothy 1:3-6
Where do false doctrines, myths and endless focus on genealogies come from? Where do these things come from that “promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith?” Timothy was sent by Paul to “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer.” These false doctrines derive from people who have—
- Departed from love being the motivation
- Departed from having pure hearts
- Departed from good consciences
- Departed from a sincere faith
In departing from these, there were those in Ephesus who had “turned to meaningless talk” and they were devoted to this. In doing so, they were not “advancing God’s work—which is by faith.” Brothers and sisters, fellow followers/disciples of Jesus, are we advancing the work of God by faith? Is our motivation for doing so Love? Do we have pure hearts? Are our consciences good consciences? Are we living by faith? Oh, may this be so, Dear Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus and for Your honor and glory and for the benefit of many other people that they may hear and obey the Gospel of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE_PNUNmw9c&list=RDrE_PNUNmw9c&start_radio=1