Let’s begin by reading  1 Timothy 4:13-14 says, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”  In his absence, the Apostle Paul charges Timothy to continue in his service to the Lord.

  • He was to ‘give attendance to reading.’ This instruction to Timothy is to us, as well. As believers on the Lord Jesus, we must find time to read God’s Word each day. This is so important to the believer, although many seem to disregard this instruction. Paul was writing about the Bereans when he said in Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, whether those things were so.” Paul said to the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:4, “Whereby, WHEN YE READ, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
  • Timothy was also to give attendance to exhortation. To exhort means to comfort or console. We read in Hebrews 3:13, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Timothy, having spent time reading the Word, now is instructed to minister to others. From out of the scriptures, he would be able to exhort fellow believers to find their strength and direction from the Lord. If we desire to be used of the Lord, and we all should have that desire, it begins with private time with the Lord in His Word.
  • Timothy was to pay attention to doctrine, or teaching the Word of God. Again, to teach the Word, one must study the Word. Paul would say later in 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word…”

We are not specifically told what Timothy’s gift was, but he was told that he should not neglect, or make light of, the gift the Lord had given him to minister to the Lord’s people. Ephesians 4:7-8 tells us,But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ has a gift, or gifts, that are to be used to minister Christ to others. We should not take that lightly. We should look to the Lord for opportunities to exercise our gifts. If you are saved, you have a gift. Seek to develop and use that gift to honor the Lord and minister to His saints.

Now let’s read 1 Timothy 4:15, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” To meditate means to ‘revolve around in the mind.’ We need to take God’s Word and meditate upon it. In Psalm 77:12 Asaph says, “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” After meditating on God’s Word, we are to give ourselves completely to its instructions. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:13, “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven…” We need to be ‘whole-heartedly’ for the Lord. Then, when we meditate upon God’s Word, when we give ourselves over to obey God’s Word, we will profit and it will show! The word ‘profit’ means that we will advance, or we will grow, in the Lord’s things. We will mature. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The word ‘perfect’ literally means to be complete or mature. May we all heed the instruction of the Lord in this portion. It is for us, and it is such a necessary portion for us to meditate on. (181.7)