Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
A PORTRAIT OF A FAITHFUL YOUTH
1Timothy. 4:6-16
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.


Apostle Paul is painting a portrait of a faithful youth to his young minister of God Timothy. Apostle wanted Timothy to understand this portrait and to practice this when he ministers to the believers as a youth minister. Apostle paints these portraits in these verses and it is a portrait to all the youth to lead a faithful life for the Lord. Even though Timothy was brought up in this faith Paul reminds him about the false teachings that can distort the portrait of a faithful youth. Paul says ‘let no one despise your youth’. Paul clearly reminds this young believer and the leader about the possibility of being despised and advises Timothy to accept this portrait to have a faithful youth to the Almighty. Paul paints three portraits to show Timothy about a faithful youth.

A portrait of disciplined life: Paul effectively communicates that Christian life is a life of discipline. A disciplined life is that which is guided by the teachings and doctrines, which were given to him from the leaders. This discipline should be seen in meditating these things and teaching them to the fellow believers. Today we give little attention to a disciplined Christian life. We are expected to have a discipline in meditating the word, understanding the doctrines, ‘rejecting profane and old wife’s fables’ and teaching them to our co sojourners. Disciple is always with discipline and Paul exhorts his young minster to have a disciplined Christian life.

A portrait of devoted life: Christian life is a life with a strong devotion to what we believe and what we practice. Paul says you should be a ‘good minster of Jesus Christ nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine’. In this devoted life we have to ‘labor and suffer reproach’ and for this we have to fully trust in the Lord. Paul also reminds him by saying that if you follow this devoted life you will be able to ‘save yourself and those who hear you’.

A portrait of a divine model: Paul says to timothy that you should be model to the fellow believers. These days the term ‘model’ has been distorted and we think that we have nothing to do to become a model. But Paul is firm in saying that as young minister and believer you should be a model to the other people ‘in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity’. This is a portrait about a divine model that has to be followed by every believer. We often fail in these models and we have our own excuses by saying that we are ‘human beings’. But we have to trust in the grace of God.

Prayer: Lord, you are the perfect portrait to us and help us to follow that to live as disciple. Amen

Rev .V.M. Mathew, Youth Chaplain, New York











Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more