The Books of Titus and Timothy

These are two of my favorite books of the bible. In these letters, Paul is commissioning two young men into the ministry. He emphasizes to them to pay close attention to doctrine.

Paul charged Timothy: "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following" (1 Timothy 4:6). "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching," Paul adds, "persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you" (v. 16).

Titus 2:10 says we "adorn [or honor] the doctrine of God" by how we live. When it comes to affirming sound doctrine, what we do carries far more significance than what we say.

How do we know doctrine...? We must read the bible. We must pray for wisdom and discernment. We should not just listen to what others have to say about the bible. We should not just study what others have written about the bible.

Listening to sermons and teachings and reading commentaries (like this one) are good, but they are no substitute for an individual's own personal study and quiet time with the Lord.

I urge you readers, make God number one in your life. Make time with HIM Your Priority. I promise if you do then everything else in your life will fall in to place. Seek Him. The Lord honors those who honor HIM.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You Lord for great bible teachers and mighty men of God like Pastor John Macarthur who inspired this morning's word of encouragement. Thank You dear Jesus for men like Pastor Bob Kraft who has established a worldwide tennis ministry. Father God I lift up these men and their ministries today. I lift up their families. I just found out that Pastor Bob and his wife are expecting a baby in August. Praise You, Jesus.

And Lord I just pray for a continued blessing on my family and my ministry. I view my family and friends, my tennis students, my co-workers, everyone whom I encounter in my daily walk is my ministy... Help me to be an effective witness to them. Help me to always be a source of encouragement and inspiration to those I encounter in my daily walk. Father, just keep me on fire for You. I want to know sound doctrine. I want to devour Your Word, the bible. I want to honor You Lord with my every waking moment. I want to honor You with my every thought. And that is where I fall dreadfully short, Lord. What ever is in a man's thought life is also in his heart. Purify me, cleanse me of negative and unclean thoughts. I wish to dwell on that which is good and pure and holy.

I love You Lord. I give this day to You. And I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.