1 Timothy 4:16: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

July 11th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Paul was giving this young pastor, Timothy, some very practical advice. By keeping a close watch on how you live out your walk and how you teach others, God will be faithful to bring you home to heaven, along with those who heard you. These are to be the uncomplicated priorities of our lives as well. When Paul says to “continue in them,” he means that we should not become weary of doing these good things: taking heed of ourselves and doctrine.

Salvation is clearly a work of God Himself, but God has decided to do it through yielded human instruments like you and me. There is an old but helpful illustration from the Swiss Alps of a man who was lost in a blizzard. Although he was almost blinded by the blowing snow, he knew he was near a wilderness cabin he had been to years before. While praying and struggling through the swirling snow, he stumbled over and over again. He was exhausted and weak and about to give up hope, when he tripped over something. It was another person. Checking for a pulse, he found the man was still alive; but he knew if he didn’t get him moving, the man would soon freeze. He hoisted the man up and started to walk slowly, one step, two, three, halting steps. To his amazement, after only about 10 more steps, he stepped onto the very porch of the wilderness cabin he was looking for. The lesson for us is that reaching out and helping others keeps us close to the Lord.

“LORD, show us someone to help today that we might keep our own walk healthy.”