| “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11 |
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| RUNNING AWAY FROM THE WRONG THINGS and RUNNING AFTER THE RIGHT THINGS As we live out our new life in Christ, living as a Christian should live, there are things to RUN AWAY FROM (FLEE these things) and things to RUN AFTER (PURSUE these things). Unfortunately, we often find ourselves RUNNING AFTER what we should be fleeing or running away from and we RUN FROM what we should be pursuing or running after. From our verse to consider let us make sure we are RUNNING AWAY FROM THE WRONG THINGS and RUNNING AFTER THE RIGHT THINGS. Here is 1 Timothy 6:11 the Apostle Paul tells Timothy to “FLEE these things.” A great way to understand the word “FLEE” is to think of being a FUGITIVE. “These things” that he is to be fleeing are greed and the love of money (See v 10). Rather than living to GET ALL ONE CAN GET, the believer is to be PURSUING becoming ALL THEY CAN BE. The Apostle Paul liked to call believers to live out key character traits. (See the bonus section) He wants to see the believer living RIGHTEOUSLY or living right. Can someone say you are RIGHTEOUS in your actions and activities? He wants the believer to be GODLY. Are you a godly person? He wants the believer to be living by FAITH. Do you walk by sight or walk by faith? Is your daily trust in God evident to others? He wants the believer to be a person who LOVES, loving others. Do you love others? He wants the believer to be a person of PATIENCE or ENDURANCE. In other words, you stay in the game no matter how hard it is. There is no quit in you. And he wants the believer to be a person of GENTLENESS or meekness. This means you handle people with care. These are the things to be RUNNING AFTER! This list of things to pursue is not new for Paul or for Timothy. Earlier in this first letter to Timothy Paul wrote for him to be an example. I Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” For Timothy to be the example he will need to determine what he will run away from and what he will run after. What are you running away from? What are you seeking to avoid? What are you staying clear of? What are you running after? What are you pursuing? The answer to these two questions in so many ways will determine your future destiny. Choose wisely!! Verse to DATE the Word on June 11 (6/11) is 1 Timothy 6:11. It says, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” Continue Strong running after the right things and running away from the wrong things, And remember to DATE the Word Bonus Here are a few other LISTS to consider regarding what to RUN AWAY FROM and to RUN AFTER 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses, self-control. Against such, there is no law. 2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Other verses to consider on June 11 (6/11) Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Daniel 6:11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. |