Like A Carrot On A Stick

168 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. The word “O” is emphatic! It puts an exclamation point on what the Holy Spirit is speaking through Paul. Further, using the term “man of God,” as opposed to naming Timothy, reminds us that this advice is for all followers of Christ. The word “man” here knows no gender, it means human being. So this is for all of us, and we are given two instructions that in reality are one. We are told to flee some things and pursue others. When we properly flee, we are engaged in pursuing, and when properly pursuing, we are engaged in fleeing. A halt in flight, is a halt in pursuit, and visa versa. The carrot in front of us, moving us to pursuit includes righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. The dog nipping at our heels are “these things” which were mentioned in the preceding verses, and can be summed up as false ideas about Christ, lust for money and goods, and covetousness. Are you a Christian? Then (1) engage yourself in the pursuit of righteousness: This would be those things that are expected by the One who sets the rules...namely God! (2) Pursue godliness: worship of Jesus that breaks out in the aforementioned righteousness. (3) Faith: Assent to divine truths, especially the saving gospel, (4) Love: Agape love, giving others what they need, not necessarily what they want. ( here you can see the fleeing/pursuing relationship. Fleeing love of money and covetousness produces pursuit of benevolence (or agape if you will) (5) Patience: A quality that endures trying circumstances. (6) Gentleness: Humility, which basically means to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, believing that He is in control. It is this quality that helps the Christian to be patient. These things that we are told to pursue on earth will never be perfectly attained this side of glory, nonetheless we engage in the pursuit, because to stop pursuing is to let the dog nipping at your heels have his way and lead you into the deadly traps of false teaching, worship of mammon, and covetousness, which is idolatry. So let us pursue! Let us not weary in doing these good things, knowing that we will fail at times, but our Savior is right there with us ready to pick us up and get back in the race!