Taking Heed To Ourselves

-November 20, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Take heed to yourself and the doctrine. Continue in them, for in so doing this will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

(1 Timothy 4:16).

Paul taught Timothy many things and watched him grow and mature, serving the Lord on his own in Ephesus as the pastor. It was a huge responsibility and a great privilege. Today’s verse shows us we can’t separate ourselves from the ministry. The person makes the ministry, not the other way around. What we preach and teach is very important, and just as vital is to practice what we preach, be examples, and grow in our faith.

November 20 will always be a special day for me. I gave my first sermon as an eighteen year old young man on November 20, 1975. I have learned so much since then not only about public speaking but about serving the Lord. I am humbled with the privilege and responsibility of preaching and teaching God’s Word. I never take it for granted. Younger people sometimes ask me if I get nervous behind the pulpit. I tell them no, but I carry the weight of speaking to the people of God. It isn’t about me, it is all the Lord.

James was the half brother of Jesus. He wrote the Epistle of James. He wrote in James 3:1, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” It isn’t easy preaching and teaching, you have to study, prepare, pray, and most of all put your whole heart into it. I have found that the best sermons come from personal experience. Listeners can best relate to it. We are all learning together what the Word of God teaches us.

As men and women of God, we must take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine. In the preceding verse, Paul told Timothy the key to preparation is, “Meditate of these things; give yourself fully to them, that your progress may appear to all” (1 Timothy 4:15). Moses taught Joshua this lesson as he passed the torch to him. Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”

There was one brother who always quoted this verse as he began his messages, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5 NASB). One man asked the great preacher and founder of Operation Mobilization, George Verwer the question after a great, challenging and encouraging message, “How long did it take you to prepare that message?” He simply replied, “All my life.” That is so true. Our whole life goes into it, our knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and personal experience goes into it. The Holy Spirit uses it all in our preparation and study of the Word.

Paul reminds all of our responsibility and accountability to the Lord to examine ourselves and judge ourselves in the light of God’s Word. He told the Corinthians, “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

May the Lord help us to take heed to ourselves and the doctrine, by preaching and teaching the Word, practicing ourselves, and examining and our hearts, words, and actions. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

As someone once said, “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say,”

Dean