“[T]o keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time” (1 Timothy 6:14-15a)

We are saved by grace through faith.  This frees us to live the commandments not out of regret, but willingly and gladly, for this is pleasing to the Lord.  Do not replace freedom with bondage, nor see grace as permission to sin.  Live instead in the reality of the relationship God has established with You.  You are His and, in a very real way, He is yours.  Keep His commandments.

Lord, You know how hard it is to do these things.  You too were tempted, yet You resisted.  Lead me in the way of living that pleases the Father and resists temptation.  Guide me in Your goodness to do good while learning to be good. Help me, O Lord, now and always so that I may abide with You in the goodness You have given us.  Help me learn how to do what is good, right and salutary.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that we may have life and have it abundantly.  You have fulfilled the law for us.  You lived the life we could never live without You.  Help me to walk in Your image and live according to the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Lead me, Lord, now and always in the way of truth.  You are the truth and You have revealed truth.  Lead me ever deeper into You.  Amen.

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession” (1 Timothy 6:13)

What is truth?  Jesus is truth!  We are in a world that wants to hear what it wants to hear.  We are in a world that attacks those who will not abide by their idea of truth.  Christ is the way, truth, and life.  In Him is all goodness.  Walk then in the truth of Christ and be not swayed by the wicked of this world to bear witness to anything other than the truth You have already heard from Christ Himself.  In Him is all life.

Lord, You have given me what I need.  I have heard the report and You are calling me to be a witness.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may now and always walk humbly in the way of everlasting life.  Help me to see through the nonsense around me and not doubt because of their incessant unbelieving questions that have already been answered by You.  You have given us the words of eternal life; help me to live guided by them.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You are truth and You have given us the truth that sets us free.  Lead me to richly abide in You.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that You have already given me what I need to hold fast in this world that seems to change its mind from one moment to the next.  Lead me in Your goodness, Lord, and help me to always make a good confession.  You are my Lord and Savior.  I pray You help me to say in public what I say in private.  Amen.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

If you believe, you will stand your ground against those who do not believe.  To fight the good fight of faith is not to be hostile, but to stand firm and not budge when it comes to living in the truth which has been revealed to you.  In this day of wishy-washy whatever, it is important that those who believe be a witness of what they truly believe.  Take hold of the eternal life which is already yours in Christ.

Lord, these words sound so simple, but I see them being practiced more by those who believe in their political cause.  How easy it is to do nothing and sometimes how hard it is to just refuse to budge when it comes to the truth.  Help me to be one who lives this life of faith You have given me and not be one who shrugs it off most of the time.  Lead me Lord in the way You know I need to go so that I may live out my good profession of faith.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me now and always to abide humbly in You knowing that You empower my life of faith.  Help me to be bold in the Christ-life and willing to fight the good fight of faith.  Teach me how to be consistent and firm in conviction and yet remain loving and approachable.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Amen.

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11).

Take a look at these things.  If you ever find yourself asking the question, “How then shall I live?”  Here is your answer.  Focus upon these things every day.  These are the jewels of real wealth.  When you have these, the other things of this world which tempt and distract become nothing.  Seek first the things of the Kingdom and then go into the world.  Do not mix up your priorities.

Lord, is it really this simple?  I know it is not easy, but time and again You tell me the simple steps to take to live the life You have given me in grace.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may do these things, that is, work on them that these actions may reflect who I am in You.  You know how and where I need to be led, Lord.  Lead me in these things so that I would now and always be one who lives by faith.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may walk in newness of life.  Lead me, Lord, in this new way of life and guide me according to Your goodness.  Grow in me the richness of these things so that I may grow each day to be a little more like You.  Lord, teach me how to pursue good things and live in contentment with what You have given me in this world.  Through all things, keep me close to You.  Amen.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10).

More than just money, anything that gets in the way of looking to and living for the salvation of Jesus is a root of evil.  Yes, we are distracted, but do not live for things when the Creator of all things has come that you may have true life.  Live into the life you are offered in faith and keep your eye on the prize.  Do not be pierced by the pains of this world, but by the truth of sins forgiven and the new life you have in Christ.

Lord, You know where I am tempted and what it would take to see me wander away from You.  Keep me from all these things.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I would hold fast to You and be led by Your grace and mercy.  You have already given me the greatest treasure.  Keep me from wandering after false treasures or seeking after that which will be destroyed.  Keep me in You always.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Even if I wallowed in poverty, in You I would still be rich.  Let me never be conditional in my faith, but always wholly committed to You, who alone can save me from the pit of destruction.  By Your grace and in Your mercy, let me firmly walk so that I may now and always see that I am truly blessed with the true treasure of heaven.  Amen.

“But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:8-9).

Enough is enough only when you realize that enough is enough.  The one who desires to be rich is never content.  Beyond the necessities, wealth is used for influence.  Influence is power (or so we sinfully think).  Those who seek power seek to place themselves alongside the Lord.  Learn to be content with having enough.  If you are blessed with more, or blessed with less, in all things give thanks to the Lord.

Lord, You know where the struggles I have are in me.  You know where I want more than I need and where I am tempted for power or influence.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would not seek just things, but You who is the Maker of all things.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may not fall prey to the common temptations, but see them for what they are and flee from them.  Help me through all struggles so that I may become like You.

Lord Jesus, You have witnessed time and again the struggle of humanity.  A few have and most do not have.  In the name of making things equal, it ends up being simply a shift in who has and who does not have.  Rather than wasting my time on meaningless pursuits, help me to pursue the greater portion by following You and learning from You the higher things.  Thank You for the salvation You alone give.  Amen.  

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” ( 1 Timothy 6:6-7).

Listen to this. Too many seem to think that they can take whatever it is with them.  We are blessed to have what we have.  God grants as God grants.  All these things are gifts.  Sure, we work and scrimp and save, but all of this does not mean that we will not leave them behind after our last day.  Act with equanimity and be fair to all.  You will leave everything behind, be it small or large.  Be cheerful in your giving.

Lord, I do hoard and think of all these things as mine alone.  Help me shift my thinking so that I treat all things as Yours.  They are and the difference is my attitude.  Guide me, Lord, in the right way of thinking about these things so that I may have a mature and proper attitude of stewardship.  In You is all hope and through You alone is salvation.  Guide me to not just hear these things, but to do them.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us by the example of Your life with an indifference to ownership.  You did not accumulate things, yet You never did without.  You lived in the provision of the day.  Help me to learn from Your example so that I might now and always look to You as the true source who has already provided all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may be a good steward and know I own nothing.  Amen.

“He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4b-5).

There are those who love to stir the pot.  Always seeking to be excited about something, they do not settle for what the Lord has given them.  These are the signs.  Do not ignore them, but realize they are symptoms of the disease of sin.  Inoculate them with the love of Jesus as a doctor would with a physical disease.  Do not allow the cancer of sin to grow.  Many congregations have allowed the cancer to grow and then wonder why they have failed.

Lord, help me to be bold in seeing things for what they are.  Let me always be gracious, but also willing to stand the right ground against the sins of those who would hurt Your body.  Guide me, Lord, to know when to stand and when to sit down.  Guide me to know the difference between a tough love that says no, and an even tougher love that sees but does not yet act.  You know what is necessary.  Guide me.

Lord Jesus, how hard it is for You to always walk this line with us sinners.  You walk it so that those who will come to know You will have the grace to reach the right place.  Help me to be like You so that I do not battle with others but love them enough to bring them to where they need to be.  Help me in and through all things to be led by You and to do things as You direct them to be done.  Amen.

“Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:2a-4a).

This world is filled with people who want to do what they think is right in their own mind.  We are called to listen to the Lord Jesus and do as He directs.  More than suggestions, He has given us the words of eternal life.  Come then and be rid of your arrogance and puffed up attitude.  Live into the life you have been given by grace.  Know that in the Lord there is hope and an eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You know the difficulty of navigating life in this world.  You know that there are those who think more highly of themselves than they ought.  Sometimes that is me.  Help me to be truly honest and to teach what You have given me to teach.  Help me to imitate Your life as the godly life.  Help me to move from understanding nothing to knowing that You are Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, though You are above everything, You acted as no one special.  You through whom all things have their being, humbled Yourself, even to death on the cross.  Lead me, Lord, in this example to not see myself as anything other than one of Your redeemed and to teach what is godly and true.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You have established and help me never to veer from the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved” (1 Timothy 6:2).

In our day, we think of ourselves as equal to everyone else.  It is much better to think of yourself as the servant of all.  The attitude you adopt reflects the intent of your heart.  If at first you are unable, try to act as if you were able.  The Lord always works with a contrite heart.  Treat others with respect and dignity, no matter their position, and live the kind of life that emulates how our Lord lived on earth.

Lord, You know how difficult it is in the face of arrogance and self-superiority.  Lead me, O Lord, to live into the life You have given me so that I would forever hold fast to this life of faith and grow in Your likeness.  Do not allow me to fall into the trap of the wicked one, nor let pride rule my heart, attitude, or mind.  In all things, lead me to be humble that I would learn to be like You.

Lord Jesus, You died because of our failures.  You did so willingly, knowing that I could not be what I need to be without You.  Take me and make of me what I need to be and begin with the attitude I carry around every day (unless You need to begin elsewhere).  Lead me in Your goodness, O Lord, and help me through the obstacles that get in the way.  In and through all things, allow me to see where I am wrong and where I have not respected others as I should.  Amen.