Read 1 & 2 Timothy
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22-25, NIV
A constant holy pursuit for any Christian is towards righteousness. It’s one of those goals that elude us, because when we have attained a certain degree of righteousness, we actually see our sin more clearly and thus strive for greater righteousness! I love the clarity of Paul’s instruction for us…FLEE (turn and run from) our childish desires…the ones that are rooted in selfishness, wanting our own way, caring about our needs alone…and PURSUE (go after) righteousness, faith, love and peace.
When I do this, I am joined together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart! That means that I am in fellowship with the Father and the saints. None of this lone ranger life for me. I want and need a community of people around me who are pursuing righteousness with a pure heart! What a promise that holds for me. To be counted as one who calls on God with a pure heart filled with peace because “a heart at peace gives life to the body”(Proverbs 14:30).
God’s word also tells us “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23) and “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34b). So many times in God’s Word, He asks us to care for the condition of our heart (28 mentions just in Proverbs alone!), because it truly determines our actions. For all of us who follow Jesus, as servants of the King, let’s commit to pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace and be kind to everyone!
Dear God, Only you can help us with our desire for righteousness. Help us to read and apply your principles in a way that would cause our hearts to change and be filled with faith, peace and love. We want to call on you with a pure heart, Lord. Teach us as we, your servants, teach others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Laurie Kelley serves as the Children’s Director at Adventure Church
