September 9th - Reflection

1 Timothy 1:1-11 (NRSV)
About false teachers

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

Reflection
The Law is good. The Law drives us to the realization that we could never fulfill the Law. The Law shows us the need for a Savior. The Law points out how awesome God is in sending the Son to die on that cross, bearing our sinful failure to the Law. Jesus died and rose again that we also may die to the Law now and rise to eternal life in him.

We are now disciples of Jesus. Followers who are glad to follow the Law because it is good. Free from the chains of the Law, because our punishment has been paid. So as new disciples we freely follow the ways of Christ and move in and about this Kingdom in which we have been placed doing the calling Jesus has sent us to do.

What is that calling? Through the written Word, the spoken Word and the active Word we listen and follow the call. Follow the call and check that we are Spirit led. Follow the call and act in good conscience, pure heart and compassionate love for God and neighbor.

Prayer
Lord, open my mind this day to hear and understand and see your Word and know your call. Lead me to put that love into action today. --- Amen