Oct 19 Jeremiah 40:7-16, Jeremiah 41, Jeremiah 42 1 Timothy 4 Proverbs 25:11-20
1 Tim 4:13-14
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
This is personal advice that Paul is giving to Timothy, but it’s extremely useful for all of us.
First – he encourages the public reading of Scripture. We must make sure that in churches, in our home groups, in our conversation – scripture comes through. Scripture is read. If we miss that, we can get so far off track and not even notice. If we are preaching and teaching, but not using scripture… what on earth are we talking about?
Next, don’t neglect the gift God has given you? What gift has He given you? With timothy, there was clearly a prophetic word given over him when he was commissioned. In context, that gift is exhortation and teaching. That isn’t the gift given to everyone, but God has given us all gifts to use. And God really wants us to use them… that’s why He gave them.
Have you ever bought someone a gift, which maybe even cost you a lot of money – something that had a lot of care and attention put into the purchase of it? I’m sure we all have – one of those gifts, that you are so excited to give someone because you think it’s so ideal.
And have you ever discovered that gift has gone unopened or unused? That it just seems… unappreciated? It’s not a good feeling.
Imagine how God feels, seeing great gifts going unused. All the great teachers, prayers, evangelists, prophets and more – whose gifts have gone unused, not through lack of opportunity but through neglect. All the world changers who just… couldn’t find the time.
What gift do you have? Using it shows how much you appreciate it.
