Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Michael L Grooms
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A daily chat with Pastor Mike and other resources to encourage listeners to connect with the Word of God and grow in their faith.

  1. 23h ago

    1 Timothy 5:3-4 - Honoring Those Who Have Cared for Us

    Honor widows who arereally widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them firstlearn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good andacceptable before God. Today, as we continue in 1 Timothy chapter 5, the ApostlePaul addresses a responsibility that is very close to the heart of God: In verse 3, Paul instructsTimothy to honor widows who are truly widows.   That littleexpression, "really widows," is important. Paul isn't suggesting thatsome women who have lost their husbands aren't actually widows. He's making adistinction between widows who have family members capable of caring for themand those who are genuinely alone and without support. In the first-centuryworld, a widow could face tremendous financial hardship. There were no SocialSecurity benefits, retirement programs, or modern assistance systems like thoseavailable in many countries today. A woman who lost her husband could suddenlyfind herself without the means to provide for her daily needs. And Paul saysthe church must not overlook these women.   The word translated"honor" carries the idea of showing respect and recognizing someone'svalue. In this context, it also includes providing practical materialassistance when needed. In other words, it isn't enough to tell a strugglingwidow that we appreciate her. We should be willing to demonstrate thatappreciation through practical acts of kindness. But then Paul gives anotherimportant instruction in verse 4. If a widow has children or grandchildren,they should first learn to show godliness toward their own household and repaytheir parents.   Notice thatexpression: "show piety at home." Paul is saying that genuineChristian faith begins with how we treat the people closest to us. It'spossible for someone to be very active in church, teach a Sunday school class,sing in the choir, or serve in some other ministry, while neglecting the needsof an elderly parent. But Paul reminds us that our Christian testimony mustbegin at home. And notice the word "repay." Can we ever really repayour parents for everything they've done for us?   Think about thecountless hours a mother spends caring for her children. The sleepless nights,the sacrifices, the meals prepared, the clothes washed, the prayers offered,and the encouragement given. Think about the father who worked long hours toprovide for his family and the sacrifices parents often make so their childrencan have opportunities they themselves never enjoyed. We can never fully repaythat kind of love. But we can honor it. We can show appreciation. And when thetime comes that our parents need assistance, we can demonstrate the same lovingconcern they once showed us.   Paul concludes verse4 by saying that this is good and acceptable before God. Sometimes we think of serving God only in terms of preaching,teaching, witnessing, or participating in church activities. But God is pleasedwhen an adult child faithfully cares for an aging parent. That, too, isChristian service. And it may be one of the most meaningful ministries we willever have. Now, I realize that family circumstances can be complicated. Noteveryone has a loving relationship with their parents. Some families haveexperienced tremendous difficulties, and some elderly people requirespecialized care that family members cannot personally provide. But theprinciple remains: We should never allow indifference or selfishness to replaceour responsibility to demonstrate love and concern.   Sometimes caring foran elderly parent means bringing them into our home. Sometimes it meansarranging appropriate professional care, helping with finances, making regularvisits, or simply being present when they need someone. And for those who haveno family to help them, the church has a special opportunity to demonstrate thecompassion of Christ. James 1:27 reminds us that pure religion includesvisiting orphans and widows in their trouble.

    1 Timothy 5:3-4 - Honoring Those Who Have Cared for Us

  2. 2d ago

    1 Timothy 5:1-2 - Treating One Another Like Family

    Have you ever thought about what makes a church feel like a family? Is itthe friendliness of the people? Is it the fellowship we enjoy? Is it the loveand concern we demonstrate for one another? Certainly, all of those things areimportant. But today, as we begin 1 Timothy chapter 5, the Apostle Paul remindsus that the church is more than an organization or a place where we gather forworship. The church is the family of God! And because we belong to God'sfamily, we have a responsibility to treat one another with love, respect,purity, and compassion.   Remember, Paul iswriting to Timothy, a young pastor serving in the church at Ephesus. In theprevious chapter, Paul encouraged Timothy to be an example to the believers inhis speech, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity. Now, in chapter 5, Paulbecomes very practical about how Timothy should relate to different groups of peoplewithin the congregation. In verse 1, Paul tells Timothy not to rebuke an olderman harshly, but to exhort him as a father. The Greek word translated"rebuke" here carries the idea of striking at someone with words.Paul isn't telling Timothy to ignore sin or avoid correcting older believers.He's teaching him how to correct someone without dishonoring them.   There's a tremendousdifference between correcting someone because we love them and attackingsomeone because we're frustrated with them. Paul says Timothy should approachan older man as he would his own father. Think about that! Age does notautomatically make someone right, but it should influence the respect withwhich we speak to them. I have learned through more than fifty years ofpastoral ministry that sometimes the way we say something is almost asimportant as what we say.   A pastor may beabsolutely correct in his biblical position, but if he communicates that truthwith arrogance or disrespect, he can do tremendous damage. Paul then says totreat younger men as brothers. That reminds us that the pastor isn't supposedto act like a dictator. He's a shepherd among the sheep, and those younger menare his brothers in Christ. We are not competitors trying to prove who is moreimportant. We are fellow members of God's family, seeking to encourage oneanother in our walk with the Lord.   In verse 2, Paulcontinues by instructing Timothy to treat older women as mothers and youngerwomen as sisters, with all purity. What a beautiful picture! Older women in thecongregation deserve the same consideration and respect we would show our ownmothers. And younger women are to be treated as sisters, with complete purityin our attitudes, conversations, and relationships.   Notice those finalwords: "with all purity." Paul understood that spiritual leadershiprequires more than sound doctrine. It requires godly character and appropriateboundaries in personal relationships. A pastor must never take advantage of thetrust people place in him. And really, that principle applies to everyChristian. Our relationships within the church should be characterized byintegrity, respect, and genuine Christian love.   Now, let me bringthis home to each of us. When you walk into your church, how do you see thepeople around you? Do you see the older gentleman who sometimes seemsdifficult? Perhaps he needs someone who will patiently listen to him. Do yousee the elderly widow who sits quietly by herself? Perhaps she needs someone totreat her with the affection and attention she once received from her ownfamily.   Do you see theyounger believer who is struggling spiritually? Perhaps he needs a brother whowill encourage him rather than criticize him. And what about the young womenand families in our congregations? They need examples of godliness,faithfulness, and purity. The church should be one place where peopleexperience the love and security of belonging to a family. Jesus said in John13:35 that people would recognize His disciples by their love for one another.

    1 Timothy 5:1-2 - Treating One Another Like Family

  3. 3d ago

    1 Timothy 4:15-16 - "A Life That Makes a Difference"

    "Meditate on these things; giveyourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all." Now,what a wonderful challenge Paul gives to young Timothy! He tells him tomeditate upon the things he's been taught and to give himself entirely to them.In other words, Timothy wasn't simply supposed to know God's Wordintellectually. He was to devote his life to putting those truths intopractice. And notice the purpose. "That your progress may be evidentto all."   Now, that's aninteresting statement! Paul expected Timothy to continue growing spiritually. Eventhough Timothy was already serving as a spiritual leader, there was still roomfor growth in his life. And I believe that's something every Christian needs toremember. We never reach a point in this life where we've learned everythingthere is to know about the Lord! No matter how many years we've been saved,there's always more to discover in God's Word. There's always room to grow infaith, love, patience, wisdom, and godliness. And I can certainly testify tothat!   You know, when Ifirst began preaching as a young man, I thought I understood a great deal aboutthe Bible. But after more than fifty years of studying, preaching, and teachingthe Scriptures, I've come to realize just how much there still is to learn. Andthat's one of the things I love about God's Word. You can read a passage you'vestudied dozens of times, and the Holy Spirit can help you see something you'venever noticed before. The Word of God truly is living and powerful!   Now, notice somethingelse in verse 15. Paul says that Timothy's spiritual progress should be evidentto others. In other words, people should be able to recognize that he's growingin his relationship with the Lord. And that's a wonderful goal for everyChristian. Not simply to grow older, but to grow spiritually! You know, growingolder is something that happens naturally. But growing spiritually requires awillingness to continue learning, obeying, and walking with the Lord. Andthat's something I hope to keep doing for as long as God gives me breath.   Now, listen to verse16: "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue inthem..." What a tremendous statement! Paul reminds Timothy that hemust pay attention to two things. His life and his teaching. And bothare extremely important. You see, it's possible for someone to know sounddoctrine and yet fail to live according to that doctrine. But it's alsopossible for someone to be sincere in their conduct while being seriouslymistaken in what they believe. And Paul wanted Timothy to understand that bothhis character and his teaching mattered. We must be faithful to the truth,and we must live the truth!   Paul concludes by explaining that Timothy's perseverance in these things would havesaving significance for both himself and those who heard him. Paul wasn'tsuggesting that Timothy could earn his salvation through good works or saveothers through his own power. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. ButGod uses faithful teaching and godly living to bring people to the knowledge ofsalvation and to strengthen believers in their faith.   You know, as I lookback over my years of ministry, some of my greatest blessings have come fromhearing people share how the Lord used something I said or did to encouragethem in their Christian walk. In fact, one of the things I've especiallyenjoyed in recent years is preparing these daily Pastor's Chats. What began asa simple opportunity to continue sharing God's Word in retirement has become awonderful blessing in my own life. And occasionally, someone will approach meand tell me they've been watching or reading these Chats, even though I had noidea they were following along. And when they tell me that God's Word hasencouraged them or helped them begin their day with their thoughts focused uponthe Lord, my heart is deeply grateful. Because that's what it's all about!

    1 Timothy 4:15-16 - "A Life That Makes a Difference"

  4. 4d ago

    1 Timothy 4:12-14 - "Be an Example to the Believers"

    Let no one despise your youth, but be an example tothe believers..." Now, remember that Timothy was a relatively youngman who had been entrusted with significant responsibilities in the church atEphesus. And apparently, his youth could have caused some people to questionhis authority or experience. But Paul didn't tell Timothy to demand respectsimply because of his position. Instead, he told him to earn respect throughthe example of a godly life. And what a wonderful lesson that is!   You know, when Ibecame senior pastor of Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church in Winchester,Virginia, in June of 1975, I was only twenty-three years old. And, as I alreadymentioned, I was younger than every one of our deacons! I had already beeninvolved in helping establish that congregation, but I still had so much tolearn. And I can assure you that being a young pastor carried some uniquechallenges. But one of the things that encouraged me was remembering that Godwasn't simply interested in my age or experience. He was interested in myfaithfulness. And that's exactly what Paul was emphasizing to Timothy.   Now, notice that Paulgives Timothy several specific areas in which he should be an example. First,in word. That means our speechshould honor the Lord. The things we say, the way we speak to others, and eventhe tone of our conversations should reflect the character of Jesus Christ. Second,in conduct. Our actions should agree with what we profess to believe. Yousee, people may forget some of the things we say, but they'll often rememberthe way we live.   Third, in love. A godly Christian shoulddemonstrate genuine concern for others. And that includes people who may notalways agree with us or treat us kindly. Fourth, in spirit. Paul'semphasis is upon the attitude and disposition that characterize our lives. Weshould seek to demonstrate humility, kindness, and a willingness to serve. Fifth,in faith. Our lives should reflect a genuine trust in God and faithfulnessto His Word. And finally, in purity. That's especially important in aworld where moral standards are continually being challenged. God calls Hispeople to live holy lives.   Now, notice somethingwonderful. Paul doesn't say Timothy must be an example only in his preaching. Hemust be an example in every area of his life. And that's a lesson for all ofus. Whether we're young or old, whether we're pastors or simply faithfulmembers of a congregation, our lives are constantly influencing otherpeople. The question is whether that influence is drawing them closer tothe Lord.   Now, listen to verse13. Paul instructs Timothy to give attention to reading, exhortation, anddoctrine.  In the context of the church,this includes the public reading of Scripture, encouraging believers, andfaithfully teaching God's Word. And I believe that's one of the most importantresponsibilities of any pastor. A church may have wonderful music, beautifulfacilities, and many excellent programs. But nothing should ever replace thefaithful reading, teaching, and preaching of God's Word. Because it's throughthe Scriptures that we come to know the Lord and understand how He wants us tolive.   Now, in verse 14,Paul reminds Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gift that had been given tohim. Apparently, Timothy's calling and gifting for ministry had been recognizedthrough prophetic instruction and the laying on of hands by the elders. AndPaul wanted him to use that gift faithfully. What a wonderful reminder! God hasgiven every believer opportunities and abilities to serve Him. And we shouldnever neglect what He has entrusted to us.   Don't allow your age, your circumstances, or yourfeelings of inadequacy to keep you from serving the Lord. If you're young,be an example of godliness. If you're older, continue using the wisdom andexperience God has given you. And whatever your age, remember that God can usea faithful life to influence others for eternity.

    1 Timothy 4:12-14 - "Be an Example to the Believers"

  5. 5d ago

    1 Timothy 4:9-11 - "Our Hope in the Living God"

    "This is a faithful saying and worthy of allacceptance." Now, we've encountered that expression before in thisletter. Do you remember 1 Timothy 1:15? Paul introduced the wonderful truththat Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners with those same words. Andhere in chapter 4, Paul again emphasizes a truth that deserves our completeconfidence. Now, listen to verse 10: "For to this end we bothlabor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God..." Whata tremendous statement! Paul reminds Timothy that serving the Lord involveslabor, sacrifice, and sometimes even suffering. But notice the reason he waswilling to endure those difficulties. His trust was in the living God!   Now, think aboutPaul's life for a moment. He had been beaten, imprisoned, rejected, andpersecuted because of his faithfulness to Jesus Christ. He had experiencedhunger, danger, exhaustion, and opposition. And yet, through it all, hecontinued serving the Lord. Why? Because his hope wasn't in comfortablecircumstances or the approval of other people. His hope was in the living God! Andthat's a lesson every Christian needs to remember. You see, if our happinessdepends entirely upon our circumstances, we're going to experience a great dealof disappointment. Circumstances change. People sometimes disappoint us. Ourhealth may decline. And the things we once considered secure can suddenlybecome uncertain.   But here's thewonderful truth. The God in whom we've placed our trust never changes! Heis the same yesterday, today, and forever. And His promises remain faithfulthrough every season of life. Now, I want you to notice something else in verse10. Paul describes God as the Savior of all men, especially of those whobelieve. Now, that's an interesting statement, and Bible scholars have offereddifferent explanations of it. Some understand Paul to be emphasizing God'sgracious preservation and care for all humanity, while believers experience Hissaving grace in a special and eternal sense. Others understand the verse asemphasizing that salvation is offered to all people, but personally received bythose who believe.   Whatever distinctionPaul intends here, we must remember what he has already taught in this letter. Inchapter 2, verse 5, he declared that there is one God and one Mediator betweenGod and men, the Man Christ Jesus. And in chapter 1, verse 15, he reminded usthat Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. So Paul certainly isn'tteaching that everyone automatically receives eternal salvation regardless offaith in Jesus Christ. Rather, he's directing our attention to the living God,who is the source of our hope and salvation. And what a wonderful hope we have!   Now, look at verse11. Paul tells Timothy to command and teach these things. In other words,these truths weren't intended simply to encourage Timothy personally. He wasresponsible for passing them along to others. And that's the responsibility ofevery faithful pastor and Bible teacher. We don't have the authority to inventour own message. We're called to proclaim the message God has given us in HisWord. You know, after more than fifty years of pastoral ministry, I'vediscovered that one of the greatest joys of serving the Lord is knowing thatour labor is never wasted when it's done faithfully for Him. Sometimes we seethe results immediately. At other times, we may never fully understand thedifference our service has made. But God knows. And that's enough!   I think about Paul'sencouragement in 1 Corinthians 15:58, where he reminds believers that theirlabor is not in vain in the Lord. What a wonderful promise! So here's mychallenge for you today. Don't allow temporary difficulties to rob you ofyour eternal hope. Keep trusting the living God. Keep serving Himfaithfully. Because ourhope is not in this changing world. Our hope is in the living God!

    1 Timothy 4:9-11 - "Our Hope in the Living God"

  6. 6d ago

    1 Timothy 4:6-8 - "Exercising Ourselves Toward Godliness"

    Listen towhat Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:6. He tells Timothy that if hefaithfully instructs the brethren in these truths, he will be a good ministerof Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and good doctrine.   Now, I want you tonotice that word nourished. That's an interesting expression. Just asour physical bodies need nourishment to remain healthy, our spiritual livesneed regular nourishment from God's Word. And that's something I've believedthroughout my years in ministry. You see, we cannot expect to grow spirituallyif we neglect the very Word God has given us for our instruction. I remember asa young pastor learning the importance of spending time in Scripture, notsimply to prepare sermons, but to nourish my own soul. And after all theseyears, I still find that daily time in God's Word is essential to my spirituallife.   Now, notice somethingelse. Paul doesn't simply tell Timothy to teach sound doctrine. He reminds himthat he must first be nourished by that doctrine himself. And what an importantlesson for pastors and Bible teachers! We cannot continually feed othersspiritually while neglecting our own spiritual nourishment. But thatprinciple applies to every Christian.   Now, listen to verse7, where Paul warns Timothy against profane and old wives' fables. In otherwords, he was to avoid irreverent myths and speculative teachings that had nofoundation in God's truth. Instead, Paul tells him to exercise himself towardgodliness. And that's where we come to our illustration. The word translated exercisecomes from a Greek term associated with athletic training. It's the word fromwhich we get our English word gymnasium. Now, think about what anathlete does. An athlete doesn't become strong simply by reading books aboutexercise. He has to put what he's learned into practice! He trains, disciplineshimself, and develops habits that strengthen his body. And Paul is saying thatthe Christian life requires spiritual discipline as well. We need to exerciseourselves toward godliness.   Now, what does thatmean? It means developing habits that help us grow in our relationship with theLord. Regular Bible reading. Faithful prayer. Worship and fellowship with otherbelievers. Obedience to God's Word. And opportunities to serve others in thename of Jesus Christ. These practices don't earn our salvation. But they helpus grow in spiritual maturity. And just as physical exercise requiresconsistency, spiritual growth requires faithfulness.   Now, notice what Paulsays in verse 8: "For bodily exercise profits a little, butgodliness is profitable for all things..." Now, Paul isn't sayingphysical exercise is worthless. In fact, he's acknowledging that it has value. Andcertainly, taking care of the bodies God has given us is important. But Paulwants Timothy to understand that spiritual development has an even greatervalue. Why? Because physical exercise primarily benefits us during our earthlylives. But godliness has benefits both now and throughout eternity. Think aboutthat! When we grow in godliness, it affects our attitudes, our relationships,our decisions, and our testimony. And the spiritual investment we make todayhas eternal significance.   Now, I find somethingespecially encouraging about this passage. Paul doesn't tell Timothy thatgodliness comes automatically. He tells him to train himself for it. And thatmeans spiritual growth is something we should intentionally pursue. You know,I've often thought that if we devoted as much attention to our spiritualdevelopment as many people devote to their physical appearance, our churchesand our families would be greatly strengthened. And here's something else. You'renever too old to grow spiritually!   So let me leave youwith this challenge today. Don't be content simply to know about God. Makeit your goal to grow in godliness! Spend time in His Word. Talk with Him inprayer. And put into practice the truths He's teaching you.

    1 Timothy 4:6-8 - "Exercising Ourselves Toward Godliness"

  7. Oct 28

    1 Timothy 4:4-5 - "Receiving God's Gifts with Thanksgiving"

    Now, beginning inverse 4, Paul reminds us of something wonderful. God is the giver of goodgifts, and we should receive His blessings with grateful hearts! Listen to 1Timothy 4:4: "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is tobe refused if it is received with thanksgiving." Now, that's awonderful statement! Paul is reminding us that the things God has created aregood when received and enjoyed according to His purposes. And this takes us allthe way back to the opening chapters of Genesis. Do you remember what God saidas He completed His work of creation? Genesis 1:31 tells us that God saweverything He had made, and indeed, it was very good.   Now, think aboutthat. The world we live in is not the result of some meaningless accident. It'sthe creation of an all-wise, all-powerful, and loving God. And the many goodthings we enjoy in life are expressions of His gracious provision. Now, we mustunderstand that Paul isn't saying every possible use of a created thing isgood. God has established moral boundaries for how His gifts are to be enjoyed.But the false teachers were condemning things that God Himself had declaredgood. And Paul wanted Timothy to correct that misunderstanding. Now, noticethat expression at the end of verse 4. "If it is received withthanksgiving." I especially appreciate those words.   You know, one of thedangers we face as Christians is becoming so accustomed to God's blessings thatwe begin to take them for granted. We wake up in the morning, enjoy a meal,spend time with our family, and go about our daily activities. And sometimes weforget that every one of those blessings comes from the gracious hand of God. James1:17 reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above. And what awonderful truth that is! I've discovered that one of the secrets of a joyfulChristian life is learning to recognize God's blessings and express ourgratitude for them. And that includes the ordinary things of life. A beautifulsunrise. A meal shared with family. A conversation with a dear friend. Theopportunity to worship with God's people. And perhaps most importantly, anotherday in which we can love and serve the Lord.   Now, look at verse5. Paul says that these gifts are sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.The word sanctified means set apart. In this context, Paul is explainingthat God's Word establishes the goodness of His provision, and prayer expressesour thankful dependence upon Him. And that's one reason Christians havetraditionally paused to give thanks before eating a meal. It's not simply areligious custom. It's an opportunity to acknowledge that everything we havecomes from God. And I hope we never lose that wonderful habit.   But I also want tosuggest something. Thanksgiving should never be limited to the dinner table!We should cultivate a grateful heart throughout the day. Now, I know thatlife isn't always easy. Sometimes we experience disappointment, sickness,grief, or circumstances we simply don't understand. And Paul certainly wasn'tsuggesting that every experience in life is pleasant. But even in difficultcircumstances, we can still thank God for His presence, His promises, and Hisfaithfulness. Remember what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18? He instructedbelievers to give thanks in everything, because this is God's will for us inChrist Jesus. Not necessarily for every painful circumstance, but in everycircumstance. And there's a wonderful difference.   So let me leave youwith a challenge today. Take time to recognize the blessings of God that youmay have been overlooking. And instead of focusing only upon what you don'thave, thank the Lord for what He has already provided. Because a grateful heartis one of the most beautiful expressions of genuine Christian faith.   Godbless, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

    1 Timothy 4:4-5 - "Receiving God's Gifts with Thanksgiving"

  8. Oct 27

    1 Timothy 4:1-3 - "A Warning About Departing from the Faith"

    "Now the Spirit expressly says that inlatter times some will depart from the faith..." Now, that's asobering statement! Notice that Paul doesn't say this is simply his personalopinion. He says the Holy Spirit has expressly revealed that some will departfrom the faith. The expression depart from the faith carries the idea ofabandoning or turning away from the truth. And Paul tells us that thisdeparture will be associated with deceptive spirits and teachings thatoriginate with demons.   Now, we need tounderstand something important. Satan's strategy isn't always to openly opposeChristianity. Sometimes he attempts to corrupt it from within by introducingteachings that sound spiritual but are contrary to God's Word. And that's whydiscernment is so important. You know, I've often reminded people throughout myministry that we should never accept something as biblical simply because itcomes from someone who claims to be a Christian teacher. We must examineeverything in the light of Scripture. Remember the believers in Berea,described in Acts 17:11? They received Paul's teaching eagerly, but they alsosearched the Scriptures daily to determine whether what they were hearing wastrue. And if those believers examined the teaching of the Apostle Paul,shouldn't we carefully examine the teaching we hear today?   Now, notice what Paulsays in verse 2. He describes individuals who speak lies in hypocrisyand whose consciences have become seared. That's an interesting expression. Thepicture is of a conscience that has become insensitive, much like skin that hasbeen burned and lost its sensitivity. You see, God has given us a conscience,but our conscience must be informed and guided by His Word. And when someonerepeatedly rejects the truth, the conscience can become increasinglyinsensitive to wrongdoing. That's why it's so important to respond when theHoly Spirit convicts us of sin. We should never become comfortable withdisobedience.   Now, in verse 3,Paul gives two examples of the false teaching that was troubling the church. Somewere forbidding marriage, while others were commanding people to abstain fromcertain foods. Now, isn't that interesting? Both marriage and food are goodgifts from God. Marriage was established by God in the Garden of Eden. And foodis something God has graciously provided for our nourishment and enjoyment. Butthese false teachers were treating certain created things as though they wereinherently sinful. And apparently, they were promoting the idea that avoidingthese things made a person more spiritual. But Paul wanted Timothy tounderstand that genuine holiness doesn't come from following man-made religiousrestrictions. It comes from a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   Now, that doesn'tmean there isn't a place for self-discipline, fasting, or voluntarily denyingourselves certain things for spiritual purposes. There certainly is. But wemust never confuse personal discipline with the basis of our acceptance beforeGod. We're not saved by what we give up. We're saved by what Jesus Christhas done for us! And I believe that's an important distinction. Throughoutthe history of Christianity, there have been people who attempted to measurespirituality primarily by outward rules and regulations. But genuineChristianity begins with a transformed heart. And when the heart is right withGod, our conduct should reflect that relationship.   So here's mychallenge for you today. Know God's Word well enough to recognize whensomeone is teaching something contrary to it. Don't allow religiousappearances, impressive personalities, or popular opinions to replace the clearteaching of Scripture. And remember that our greatest protection againstspiritual deception is a growing knowledge of God's truth and a closerelationship with Jesus Christ.   Godbless, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

    1 Timothy 4:1-3 - "A Warning About Departing from the Faith"
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A daily chat with Pastor Mike and other resources to encourage listeners to connect with the Word of God and grow in their faith.

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