1 Timothy 5:9-6:21

There is an old saying, ‘Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.’ Paul was the exception to that rule; he could do and he could teach. The Apostle Paul was a visionary leader. He had a deep and abiding faith that had plumbed the depths of God’s grace and discovered new Life in Christ. Yet, he could take this expansive vision of the Life in Christ and describe it in ways that everyone could grasp the grace of God. Consider this affirmation from1 Corinthians 15:1-6 and Colossians 1:15-20 that many churches use in their worship services:

This is the good news
which we have received,
in which we stand,
and by which we are saved:

Christ died for our sins, was buried,
was raised on the third day,
and appeared first to the women,

then to Peter and the Twelve.

and then to many faithful witnesses.

We believe Jesus is the Christ,
the Anointed One of God,
the firstborn of all creation,
the firstborn from the dead,
in whom all things hold together,

in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
by the power of the Spirit.

Christ is the head of the body, the church,
and by the blood of the cross
reconciles all things to God.  Amen.

This quality to make manageable the deepest truths about God was evident in Paul’s work in leading local congregations. Paul was not only a visionary he was also a doer. He didn’t live out each day in the Chapel; he lived out each day with the people of his church. He knew first-hand the challenges of building a new community of faith that was so counter-cultural. Paul not only saw a grand vision of this new community, he also knew how to take up hammer and nails and begin to build this new community.

In this First Letter to Timothy, Paul blends pragmatic counsel for the details and inner workings of the new community, together with his vision of God’s Glorious Kingdom. His advice was born of his own experiences and brought the grace of God into the day to day life of the congregation. As an example, within a culture where slaves accounted for at least one third of the population, Paul didn’t issue a blanket prohibition of slavery. Instead, he taught his congregation that in God’s Kingdom, we are all one. He taught his church about equality before God. He taught his church to honor with Godly dignity the sanctity of human life. With such a foundation, his congregation could move from the legalistic, “you have to”; to the grace filled, “I want to.”

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

Reading for 15-Apr-12       2 Tim. 1:1-18