◄ What Does 1 Timothy 4:6 Mean? ►

God has spoken to man through His Word, which was delivered to us through the holy apostles and prophets of both the Old and New Testaments. We do not have to visualise how to be saved or second-guess what God wants to teach us, nor do we have to try to imagine how God expects us to live, for it is clearly laid out for our learning in a logical and systematic way within the Holy Scriptures.

The Word of God gives us clear teachings on salvation, justification, sanctification, propitiation and many other important Christian doctrines, and the Bible also give us clear and godly principles on how to live the Christian life in a manner that is pleasing to God and in a way that honours His name

Knowledge and application of sound biblical doctrine contained in Scripture is the only foundation for a mature Christian walk and effective Christian service, and Paul reminds the young pastor, Timothy that a good minister of the Lord Jesus Christ must be constantly nourished by the words of the faith and good doctrine.

However, Paul warned Timothy that in the last days many professing Christians would depart from biblical truth and stray from the body of sound doctrine that was delivered to the Church by God's holy apostles and prophets. He even gave a list of things to look out for, which would identify this approaching apostasy; such as deception through false teachers, an increase in false prophets, twisted Christian doctrine and unbiblical legalistic teachings. All of these things result from a false interpretation of God's Word, a misrepresentation of God Himself, and a misunderstanding of His holy Word.

The only way to be sure that none of us slip into false teachings, fleshly carnality, legalistic practices or doctrinal error is to constantly and consistently be nourished and nurtured on the Word of God so that we may be equipped to identify false or unbiblical teaching. And though pastors like Timothy should hearken to Paul's instructions to preach the Word, rightly divide the Word of truth, teach the whole council of God, and provide spiritual nourishment for those in their care, the rest of us should be equally determined to feed on the Word of God daily so that we may grow in grace and mature in our spiritual life.

Like Timothy, we need to feed daily on scriptural truth as a personal priority and for our own spiritual nourishment. Doctrine should not be considered a dirty word to be avoided, but should be embraced as the singular plumb-line for truth and recognised as the God-given criterion that enables false doctrine to be recognised and rejected.

Like Timothy, we are all to be good servants of Christ Jesus and constantly nourished on the words of the faith that was given to the saints, and of sound biblical doctrine. Feeding on the Word of God should not be an occasional occurrence or seen as a necessary obligation that has to be fulfilled during a weekly visit to a church service of religious gathering. As blood-bought children of God, we should constantly crave for the milk and the meat of the Word, and seek ongoing nourishment from the holy Scriptures as eagerly as a newborn baby searches for its mother's milk.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and for the truth that it contains. Thank You that in the Scriptures, I have all that I need for clear teaching on salvation, justification, sanctification, propitiation, and many other important Christian doctrines. I pray that I may yearn for Your Word of truth as a baby craves for milk so that in Christ, I may grow in grace and mature in my Christian life and not be misled by false doctrines and unbiblical teachings, to Your honour and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.