Abide Still

1 Timothy1: 3-7
³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. ⁵ Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, ⁶ from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

I heard this story from one of our participants in the youth fellowship of our church about a young mother of a very cranky son who once was crying impatiently to lay his hands on the raw fish that the fisherman had just brought home and was being prepared for lunch by the mother. She continued with her preparations, ignoring the ever increasing decibel of the sound of the cry of her son. 

After about an hour, when she took a plate and laid the prepared fish along with the other food items, away went the memories of pain and remorse suffered a while ago by the little boy. Behold, the boy was enjoying the delicious food with the special delicacies of his mother. Does not that sound similar to what we are experiencing, many a time, in our walk with Christ, our Savior? He is busy preparing the best for us as he beckons us through His word, to abide still and press on, instead of complaining and arguing.

The purpose of Paul for Timothy as the former asks him to stay on in Ephesus, as he writes in 1 Timothy 1:3-6 is that Timothy will have to stay on at Ephesus for some more time to keep a track on and correct certain people who are teaching false doctrines as well as those who lack godly edification. This is a very difficult phase, where you are finding a very exciting opportunity of ministry or public appearance right ahead of you and God is asking you to Abide Still wherever you are and bear what God has ordained of you to. Timothy might be experiencing a very hard time around him, with many trying to discourage him, taking him off the track by many false doctrines, etc, but still he is asked to Abide Still and endure hardness (2 Timothy 2:3) Many a times, God may put us on a hold in some particular situations without further answers. But we need to understand that God is preparing the blessing for us with enough spices and sufficient amount of flavors and ingredients.  We need to Abide Still.

Paul further adds that when people do not understand the purpose of God’s commandment, which according to this scripture is love from a pure heart, a good conscience as well as genuine faith, they turn aside to useless talk, fables and endless genealogies. Now, isn’t that so true? We hear so many of them these days, because of the lack of true love and genuine faith, many spend their time, money and strength to criticize others, steal others honor and dignity. Let us remember always the purpose of God’s command in our lives. It is to have the true love with a good conscience as well as to keep up the genuine faith.

Is not the actual purpose of God in publishing the old covenant through Moses (Old testament) as well as in displaying the new covenant (New Testament) by the death of Lord Jesus on the calvary, to display His true love and His genuine faith on these unfaithful ones? Let us hold on to this True Love displayed to us on the cross. Let us learn to thank God in every situation of life and to remain content with everything that God gives us, so that He may exalt you at the due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

Are you going through situations in life, where through this blog, the Holy Spirit is asking you to Abide Still? You may write back to us and share your prayer requests, we would be more than happy to pray for you.

God bless you!