Devotion: 1 Timothy 6:11

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

You may want to read back a little to get an idea of what is being discussed in today’s verse. “All this” is referring to the negative and harmful influences in our lives. We want to actively be turning away from these things and turning to our Lord and His ways. Paul then goes on to explain the virtues that we should be pursuing – righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Can you imagine what our world would look like if we all turned to these virtues instead of seeking out self gratification and personal glory? What a world we would live in if we all sought the virtues Paul discusses in this verse.

Let’s take a closer look at these virtues to make sure we understand what we are seeking.

– Righteousness – This is where we are striving to live a life that aligns with God’s moral standards, one that is characterized by truth, justice, and mercy.
– Godliness – This is a life lived in sincere devotion to God, reflecting His character and His will, His ways.
– Faith – We have covered this extensively this month, but in summary it is trust in God, in His promises, and His Word, in the face of challenges and trials.
– Love – This is the core fundamental belief and action of every Christian – to love God first and foremost and then to love others as ourselves. Love is all encompassing.
– Endurance or steadfastness – Like faith, this is where we strive for perseverance and a commitment to following Christ even when facing hardship or opposition.
– And finally, Gentleness – This is humility, kindness, and a gentle spirit in all interactions.

All of this combined gives us the blueprint for how we should be living our lives for Him. Are you seeking this for your life? Have you put on these virtues and sought to live a life for God?

You might also like this:

Devotion: Psalm 141:2 Devotion: Psalm 16:9 Devotion: John 6:48