1 Timothy: Love From a Pure Heart, a Good Conscience, and Sincere Faithნიმუში

Eyes on the Prize

1 Timothy ends with the idea of keeping our eyes on the prize or keeping a good confession.

There is power in the tongue. I am not suggesting we create reality that is not possible. Instead, we understand that what comes out of our mouth informs what we believe. It is a feedback loop. We believe or think something, and then we say something. This then informs what we believe or think, so we say something. This happens negatively or positively.

If we think badly and speak badly, we think badly and then speak badly. But the cycle can be broken. We just need to change what we say. We adjust our confession. It is not just about saying the right things, it is also very important to stop saying the wrong things.

Many of us have heard the phrase, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This is not just for other people; it’s for us too. A good confession or keeping our eyes on the prize means being like Jesus. Sometimes He spoke the truth to those accusing Him, and sometimes He did not say anything at all. He was quiet because He knew nothing He said would have changed the situation, so He just kept a good confession.

Sometimes, to keep a good confession, we need to keep quiet. Sometimes the biggest problem we have is our inability to be quiet. Other times, to break the feedback loop of negativity, we need to speak the positive reality God tells us in His Word, the Bible. This is one of the reasons reading the Word of God is so important. When we see what God says about us, we begin to think differently. When we think differently, we speak differently.

We need to transform our minds to think God’s thoughts of us. We need to transform our minds to think God’s thoughts of others. We need to transform our minds to think about the world rightly.

My question to you today is: what are you confessing? So often when we talk about confession, we think of it in terms of confessing some sin or something, but confession is just telling the truth. When we tell the truth, it informs us and brings glory to God.

My prayer, my desire for you is to keep your eyes on the prize. Keep a good confession. You can do it, and Jesus can make it happen in you.

We need to finish strong. There is too much on the line to give up now.