8In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

- P65

10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
- P65

1Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

2Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

- P64

Overseers must be above reproach, faithful to one wife, self-controlled, hos-pitable, able to teach, and able to manage their family well.  - P65

Similarly, deaconsmust be worthy of respect, sincere, not greedy, and hold the deep truths ofthe faith with a clear conscience.  - P65

Those who serve well gain respect and greatassurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. - P65

Paul outlines the qualifications for an overseer—usually a church pastor today—emphasizing the importance of personal character. - P66

Overseers are expected to demonstrate integrity, self-control, and faithfulness. These qualities must shape their leadership both in the church and at home. Their reputation must be above reproach, demonstrating wisdom and maturity in how they relate to others, including those outside the faith. - P66

This high standard is necessary because pastoral ministry is a noble and weighty responsibility. In a world that often prioritizes giftedness over godliness, Paul reminds us that leadership in the church is about modeling Christ-like character. - P66

Pastors must hold themselves accountable to these standards, and the church should support them through prayer and encouragement, and by following their godly example. - P66

Like the overseers, deacons―the leaders entrusted with practical and administrative responsibilities in the church-are also expected to exhibitstrong moral character, sincerity, and commitment to the gospel.  - P66

Paul explains that their integrity should be evident in both their public and privatelives, including in their homes. His emphasis on their faithfulness remindsus that serving in God‘s house requires more than just skill; it demands aChrist-like heart, . - P66

Leaders are to be held to a high standard, but these 
qualities should not be limited to them. Every believer is called to live a life ofintegrity, faithfulness, and dedication to God‘s work.  - P66

Service in the church, at any level, 
should reflect the character of Christ - P66

Heavenly Father, thank you for the spiritual leaders You have placed in my life. Strengthen them in their calling, uphold their integrity, and guard their hearts against temptation. - P67

Help me to honor and support them through prayer and by following Christ with sincerity and humility. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen. - P67

And when we face various challengesin our day-to-day experience, how we choose to respond is telling. We canmake decisions that either are or are not aligned with God‘s truth.
If Christ is our moral standard, this does not mean that we should beconsumed with over-analyzing everything that we do or judging others ineverything that they do - P67

. That would lead us to try to manufacture God‘sgoodness and truth ourselves rather than allowing Him to change us fromthe inside out.  - P67

However, if we are truly focused on Jesus, then we are awarethat there is an example of what is truly good.  - P67

Jesus is the clear standard bywhich we orient our lives. May we keep our eyes on Him and His goodnessand avoid all that does not conform to His ways. - P67


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1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—

2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

6who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time

- P60

14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

15But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

- P61

Paul urges prayers for all, including those in authority, so people may livepeaceful lives. This pleases God, who wants all to be saved and to know thetruth.  - P61

Paul was appointed an apostle and herald to the Gentiles of the goodnews of Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. He urgesmen to pray without anger, and women to learn in quietness and submission. - P61

Paul urges the church to prioritize prayer for all people, including all types of leaders. The rulers of his time were often hostile to Christians, so the believers are called to intercede for those in authority. Their leadership is ultimately under the sovereignty of God, and those who rule with wisdom and justice can foster peace, which can help people to come into a greater knowledge of the truth. - P62

Today, in an age when truth is often seen as relative, the urgency of God’s witness remains. - P62

As we pray and speak the truth that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, we participate in God’s redemptive work, inviting the Holy Spirit to convict hearts and draw people to the Savior. - P62

These instructions emphasize how believers should conduct themselves incorporate worship. Paul‘s comments address specific concerns in the historical and social context of the early church, but they offer timeless principlesfor us today.  - P62

First, Paul stresses the importance of modesty—not only indress but also in behavior. Worship is about glorifying Christ, not drawingattention to ourselves. Through our clothing, demeanor, and actions, ourfocus should remain on God.  - P62

Second, Paul emphasizes the importance oforder in worship. Every Christian tradition has a structured way of conducting services, which should be respected for the sake of unity.  - P62

Ultimately, public worship is an expression of our devotion to Christ, and ourconduct should reflect reverence, humility, and a heart fully yielded to Him. - P62

Lord, teach me to worship You in spirit and truth. - P63

Help me to approach corporate worship with humility, modesty, and a heart centered on You. - P63

May my attitude and actions bring glory to Your name and my worship reflect wholehearted devotion. In Your name I pray, amen. - P63

We begin to see moreclearly whether our attitude and behavior resemble Christ‘s.
As he addresses how men and women should behave in the church, Paulstresses the importance of character. For men, he emphasizes praying to theLord with uplifted hands and without anger or disputing" (v. 8), remind-ing us about the biblical wisdom of being patient with one another andresolving disagreements.  - P63

For women, Paul encourages continuing to walkin faith, love, and holiness with propriety, reminding us about the biblicalwisdom of focusing on such virtues and maintaining them. Although eachgroup is addressed separately in this letter, the advice is applicable to allbelievers.  - P63

We would all do well to remember to practice patience towardone another, have faith in the Lord, live lives that are rooted in God‘s loveand truth, and highly value God‘s holiness. As we do so, we become moreaccurate reflections of the Jesus we follow. - P63


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13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. - P56

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

- P56

Paul thanks Christ Jesus for considering him trustworthy and appointing himto His service despite his past as a blasphemer and a persecutor. Christ Jesusshowed Paul mercy as an example of His immense patience for those whowould believe in Him.  - P57

Paul urges Timothy to fight the battle well, holding tofaith and a good conscience, unlike those who shipwreck their faith. - P57

How would you respond if someone gave you a gift you did not deserve? In this passage, Paul reflects on the overwhelming grace he has received. He is grateful for the strength and trust he has been given to serve the Lord although he was once a persecutor of the church. God not only saved him but also called him to be a minister of the gospel. - P58

God’s grace was poured out abundantly on him, surpassing all human logic. This truth continues to apply to all believers: we are undeserving, but God calls us into His family and entrusts us with His service. In response, we should be faithful to minister to Him and His people with humility and gratitude. - P58

While declaring that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, cnsPaul calls himself the worst of sinners, not because he wants to wallow
in self-deprecation but because he is grateful for God‘s mercy.  - P58

In a worldthat encourages self-affirmation and self-centered confidence, Paul‘s per-spective is countercultural. When we lose sight of our sinfulness, we riskdiminishing the depth of God‘s grace and taking His mercy for granted.
This can lead to a sense of entitlement or even abuse of the grace we havereceived.  - P58

However, when we remember the contrast between our sinfulnessand God‘s holiness, our gratitude deepens and our worship becomes moreauthentic.  - P58

True worship flows from a heart that has been humbled by graceand responds with awe and devotion. - P58

Dear God, I am unworthy, yet You have lavished Your grace upon me. May I never take Your mercy for granted. - P59

Let my worship be filled with gratitude and awe, knowing that all I have is because of You. - P59

Teach me to serve with humility. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P59


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To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer

4or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

- P52

5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- P52

8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

9We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

10for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

- P53

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, writes to Timothy, his son in the faith. Paulurges him to stay in Ephesus to command certain people not to teach falsedoctrines or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.  - P53

The goalof this command is love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience,
and a sincere faith. - P53

Paul begins his letter to Timothy by instructing him to stay in Ephesus and address the challenges the church is facing. These challenges stem from false teachers and their doctrines, which contradict the gospel and cause division rather than advancing God’s work. Paul urges Timothy to take action, speaking as someone who has received God’s command to faithfully carry His good news of salvation and hope. - P54

Paul’s letter aims to remind Timothy of this service and hope that they share, and to encourage him to guard the truth of the gospel. - P54

We who acknowledge God as our Savior and look to Christ as our hope have also been entrusted with the gospel. We, too, are tasked with holding firm to it and helping others grow strong in it. - P54

A false understanding of the Law leads to meaningless talk within thechurch and clouds the truth of the gospel. Unlike the true apostles ofChrist, these so-called teachers of the Law failed to grasp its core lovingGod and loving one‘s neighbor. They misunderstood its purpose as well,
claiming the Law is the way to salvation.  - P54

These false teachers‘ lack of under-standing of the gospel, salvation, and the Law resulted in their inability tohave a right relationship with God The Law is not the basis for salvation.
Rather, it reveals sin and restrains it.  - P54

Those who have been made righteousin Christ have been given a new nature on which sin no longer exercisescontrol, and which therefore no longer needs to be under the Law. - P54

One of my regular tasks as a missionary is writing and sending prayerletters. Since I started writing these letters, I have been able to relate moredeeplyto the letters of the apostle Paul and the heart behind them. Paulwrote many letters to both churches and individuals, praying for his readers,
answering their questions, addressing issues, and teaching them what tobelieve and what to confront. In all of Paul‘s letters, we see his genuine loveand concern for his readers.
- P55

Although the content of my letters differs from Paul‘s, when I write, Istrive to share my heart with my family, friends, churches, and anyonewho is reading. I share how God is working in my life and in the missionfield where I serve, and I ask for the readers‘ prayers. I also thank and blessthem for joining me in this mission that is not only mine but-primari-ly-God‘s.
- P55

As I was reading the opening verses of Paul‘s first epistle to Timothy, I wasdeeply touched by the strong connection between Paul and Timothy inthe gospel. United by one Christ, one gospel, and one faith, Paul sincerelyhopes that Timothy, his "true son in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2), will be just aszealous in guarding the truth and nurturing the church. Paul‘s words radiateconfidence in the gospel, which he has received from Christ Himself. Onthis foundation, he exhorts Timothy. His exhortation extends to all of uswho read this epistle.  - P55

Through Paul‘s words, the Holy Spirit invites us tojoin in this divine mission, which we, too, have been entrusted with. - P55

Lord, thank you for entrusting me with Your gospel. - P55

Help me grow in my knowledge and love of Your truth so that I may help others grow as well. Protect Your people from the lies that seek to make us turn away from following You. In Your name, amen. - P55


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At the beginning of this psalm, the psalmist recalled God’s promises to His people, but now he sees a desolate nation. He remembers God’s promise to make His anointed victorious, but what he sees is the enemy rejoicing over the defeat of God’s anointed. God’s promise is made firm by His holiness (v. 35), but the stark contrast between God’s Word and the reality of David’s kingdom falling apart causes the psalmist to pour out this lament. - P50

Likewise, we might face situations that seem to contradict God’s promises and character. In such moments, we can pour out our lament before Him while remembering He is still working according to His plan and timing, even in the midst of our trials. - P50

Dear God, I praise You for Your faithfulness in all circumstances. - P51

Forgive me for the times I fail to see Your goodness and give in to despair. Turn my heart toward You and anchor my thoughts in Your promises even when I struggle with painful realities. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P51


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