Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
1 Timothy 4: 16
4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
“Take Heed Unto Thyself.”—
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.” Thyself needs the first attention. First give yourself to the Lord for sanctification to His service. A godly example will tell more for the truth than the greatest eloquence unaccompanied by a well-ordered life. Trim the lamp of the soul, and replenish it with the oil of the Spirit. Seek from Christ that grace, that clearness of comprehension, which will enable you to do successful work. Learn from Him what it means to labor for those for whom He gave His life. The most talented worker can do little unless Christ is formed within, the hope and strength of the life (The Review and Herald, August 19, 1902). {7BC 916.1}
Paul’s instruction to Timothy was “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” Likewise, we are to read the Bible. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. For in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. We are to believe and know the truth in order to labor as Christ did. Read and study the Bible, pray, be sanctified by the Word of God. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. Meditate upon the Word of God and things of God; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. The Bible writes King Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come into Your presence in thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. We thank You for The Holy Spirit and the Word to live by. We thank You for giving us the Holy Bible, the instruction manual to life. Help us to believe and know the truth in order to labor as Christ did. We pray all will read and study the Bible with prayer to be sanctified by the Word of God. Please grant us wisdom, understanding, and discernment when we open up Your Word and study the doctrines within it for our edification. Help us to understand all the truths that save others and us. Help us to teach and study Your Word with others that they may know the truth that saves. Help us to work together as Your children in bringing the everlasting gospel to all that have an ear to hear. Help us to clear up the misunderstanding of doctrinal errors that some hold on to in order to satisfy their own intellect. There will be many in the latter days that will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. We pray to put the brethren in remembrance of these things, and be good ministers of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine. Help us to refuse doctrinal error and false depictions of Your truth propagated and glamorized by Hollywood and others. Help all to put away their idols and instead give themselves wholly to the Word of God and things of God. Help us to be a godly example to those around us that they may see You in us as we reflect Your character. We pray for in doing this we shall both save ourselves, and them that hear us. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
