Introduction

There are many analogies in the Bible. Paul has rich admonitions for his comrade, Timothy, and we do well to know and apply them as well.

Our demeanour and decorum tell us about our faith, beliefs and our convictions. Ephesians 4:1 says, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called”. Be careful as many are watching us. Consider the following instructions for, or analogies of, the Christians:

1. A Good Example “…mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself…” (1 Tim 3:15).

We are all affected by one another by our behaviour. God-honouring behaviour is a good testimony to others in the way we dress, talk, walk and think. We can be a spring board or stumbling block for their faith in Christ by our positive modelling or negative testimony.

2. An Active Athlete “…exercise thyself rather unto godliness” (1 Tim 4:7).

The exercise of the soul in godliness is the sure way to avoid gracelessness and worldliness. We are all running a race of life: let us run in such a way that we win and don’t lose and keep to the rules all the time. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. Be disciplined and fit and finish the race of life.

3. A Meditative Student “…give thyself wholly to them…” (1 Tim 4:15).

Having a concentrated mind on the word of God and things of eternal life will help us to reach a commendable end. Do not be distracted by the worldly amusements but take time to study and read God’s word daily. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.

4. A Careful Custodian “take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine…” (1 Tim 4:16).

We are to be faithful stewards or trustees of God’s gifts entrusted to us. Use your God given spiritual gifts and talents for the Lord in the Church and edify and exhort others. We are to apply the Word wholly to oneself, and to also apply oneself wholly to the Word and be a good testimony and example for others.

5. A Saved Servant “…doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Tim 4:16)

Salvation is of the Lord and we must not take it for granted. We need to examine our hearts that we, our children, and our loved ones are truly born again. Do not forget to share the gospel as it is our duty and privilege. There is a need to both know and practice the Word fully and that is the only way to preserve oneself from just a mere knowledge of it. Be doers of the word and not just hearers (James 1:22).

6. A Sanctified Man “…keep thyself pure” (1 Tim 5:22).

Holiness is a calling for all and not an option or suggestion. We live in a world of moral pollution and corruption and we need to be purged and cleansed daily by the Lord through sincere confession and repentance. The cleansing of our hearts from sin’s pollution is only possible by the Saviour’s blood shed for us when we repent of them. We must keep on following Christ faithfully as we are kept by His grace alone.

7. A Separate Saint “…from such withdraw thyself” (1 Tim 6:5).

Biblical separation is seldom spoken of today. The place of separation unto God and away from the world is the place of power and purity unto the Lord. We are to keep away from sin, the world and other compromised relationships or unedifying activities or places as 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”. Do you keep away from unedifying situations?

8. An Approved Worker “…study to shew thyself approved unto God” (2 Tim 2:15).

We need to first study the word diligently and then we are able to please the Lord which is the secret of true pleasure and effective service for Him. It has to be sanctioned by God and we cannot do it our way but only by God’s divine ways and directions as guided by the infallible instructions from His holy and sufficient word (2 Tim 3:16, 17).

9. An Alert Soldier 2 Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Those men who do NS* in Singapore know something about being a soldier. SAFTI** and OCS*** are tough schools for selected soldiers but necessary to train us in fitness and strategy. We are all conscripted into the Lord’s army to be fit and ready all the time to fight all the time. Good soldiers are to be ready and aways equipped to do battle with the forces of evil and triumph for God in the victory over sin and temptation. Let us strive to be a disciplined, fit, and useful warrior for Christ in the battle for the propagation and defence of the most holy faith in the last perilous days.

General Guidelines

Indifference and laziness are a curse and all of us are to be industrious and diligent students and practitioners of the word, our only source of infallible God given information. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”.

We are all to be responsible stewards and custodians of the manifold praise of God and we are to be accountable for Him one day before the judgement seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”.

We are saved by the sovereign grace of God for a purpose and it is our greatest honour to serve and glorify the King of kings and to exalt Him forever. Let us do so with joy and love and fervency for the Lord in 2012 and beyond.

A sanctified heart and mind and soul, set apart and consecrated to Christ is necessary to all who want to grow in the knowledge and the fear of God.

We are to be fervent, holy, fit, faithful and fruitful children to the Lord always in the midst of a decadent world. Romans 6:12 says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof”.

Conclusion

The word of God is full of rich and meaningful instructions and descriptions of the Christian life and when we study and apply them, we get a deeper insight into what it means to be a God-honouring and Christ-centred Christian today in the midst of a corrupt and depraved world.

Originally published in Sovereign Hope BP Church Weekly (January 2021)

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