The Message of the Church

Timothy had a difficult and responsible task when Paul left him in Ephesus. Leaders in the church had strayed from the gospel, just as Paul had warned the elders when he met them in Miletus: "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30).

Have you ever stopped to think how people get their idea of Jesus from us as a church? What we say and do as a church affects, for good or ill, what people think of Christ. Paul commanded Timothy to get them to teach the true gospel that leads to love.

How was he to do that? Paul doesn't say, but he had spent a lot of time with Timothy and loved him dearly. He calls him "my true son in the faith" (v 2). He wasn't literally Paul's son, but son in the faith, since Paul had led him to faith. They had spent a lot of time on the road together. Paul must have spent time teaching Timothy the great truths of the gospel.

It is sad to read that later the Ephesian Christians had "lost their first love" (Revelation 2:1-7).

There are all sorts of subtle ways in which church leaders may be led astray. It's of paramount importance for the church to hold fast to the truth of the gospel. We have the scriptures. Let's read them and know them well.

Respond in Prayer

Lord, thank you for the church and its message, the magnificent gospel, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Thank you, too, for every true teacher who teaches the gospel. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Lawson Murray

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).