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1 Timothy 6:11
In 1 Timothy 6:11 the Apostle Paul instructs the man of God to pursue the things that are reflective and respectful of being a leader in the Christian Church. He states, “11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11, NKJV).
These instructions are to prepare Timothy for a life of ministry but are equally important for us all to follow and seek in our relationship with Jesus and duty as Christians. As Paul begins 1 Timothy 6:11 he instructs to “flee these things” and is reflecting on his comments made in 1 Timothy 6:9–10 of the foolish and destructive things in which the devil tempts us with.
This is a command to flee the lusts of the flesh and to pursue the things that are reflective and respectful of Jesus.
Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness are traits that we must investigate separately so we can better understand each one and how we can or should utilize and apply in our lives. Today we will look at righteousness.
The Apostle Paul declares in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no, not one” as he quotes from Psalm 14. The Apostle John declares in 1 John 1:8–9, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He continues in 1 John 2:1–2, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Jesus declares in John 3:16–17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Through believing in Him – Through putting our faith in Him – we are saved through His righteousness and are given His righteousness in the eyes of God. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that we are not righteous, but it is the righteousness of Christ Jesus that cleanses us from sin and welcomes us as Your children. The scribes and Pharisees set themselves up to look better than anyone else so they could claim self-righteousness. Jesus declared in Matthew 5:20, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” LORD, please help us to realize and understand that it is not our own self-proclaimed righteousness as that of the scribes and Pharisees that You desire us to have, but the pure righteousness of Christ Jesus through putting our faith in Him as our Savior. In Jesus name I pray, amen.