How To Make Spiritual Progress

134 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 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. There's that phrase again. “the doctrine.” What doctrine? The doctrine that was summed up by the early church and then quoted by Paul in 1 Tim 3:16. To paraphrase again. Jesus is God in the flesh, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He was justified by the Holy Spirit by His resurrection from the dead which was witnessed by His Apostles and over 500 others. He instructed His Apostles to go and preach this Good News to the Gentiles and many would come to faith. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. Timothy is to meditate on these things, the word means to “revolve in the mind.” Keep playing these truths over and over again in your mind and allow the Spirit to strengthen your faith. “Give yourself to them Timothy, that is, agree with them wholeheartedly and then note the promise of “evidental spiritual progress” for those who so do! (“that your progress may be evident to all.”) As you believe these facts about Jesus, it's almost like you were there with Him and the disciples. Further, in believing these things and meditating on them often will guard your heart and mind from false teaching and possible loss of salvation and as you proclaim them to others, these truths have the same effect. Souls will be saved! These things are the foundation of the faith 1Co 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” We start there and all other aspects of our faith will flow from this truth. Meditate on “the doctrine” often it will keep your life on track with what really matters.