Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Timothy 4:7 (New Living Translation)

7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

Paul is providing advice to a younger evangelist named Timothy. A few sentences earlier, Paul mentions how there will be people teaching things that are not from God but are from demons and deceptive spirits.

People will want to discuss these godless ideas. “What about this? What about that? Tell me! Don’t change the subject!”

Well, yes, change the subject. These other ideas, that’s not the point. Jesus is the point. Some of the other discussions can be interesting. Some have a direct, short-term affect on lives. In those ways, some of the ideas are important. They, however, are not the more important. Jesus is the more important.

“But this is a life-and-death issue! We must discuss this!”

Well, maybe. Jesus, however, is greater than life and death. With Jesus, we die to this world and live to Jesus. Yes, that is a bit esoteric or something that doesn’t seem to affect me this morning while sipping coffee and typing words on a keyboard. And sometimes thinking about such ideas is so big and difficult that I get a headache. Yet, that idea is true. That idea is worth the time, effort, and heart to discuss.

Please God, help me train to be Godly.