After
sharing concern for Timothy's physical well-being and writing about
how “some men's sins are open beforehand,
going before to judgment; and some men
they follow after”, Paul the apostle turned
his attention toward those who do “good
works”. We read in chapter five and verse
twenty-five of his letter to Timothy:
Likewise
also the good works of some
are manifest beforehand;
and they
that are otherwise cannot be hid.
The verse begins,
“Likewise also the good works of
some are manifest beforehand;” Paul
began with the word, “Likewise”
which means
“in like manner or in the same manner” “also”
or “indeed, even or and” “the
good works”
which are the “beautiful, handsome,
excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable,
commendable and admirable business, employment, that which any one is
occupied that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking,
and anything that is produced by hand, art, industry or mind” “of
some are manifested beforehand” which means
“openly evident and known to all”. Just as there were “sins”
which were openly and widely known among men, there are some “good
works” which are well-known by others.
The
verse goes on to say, “and they that are otherwise cannot
be hid.” Paul continued with,
“and they that are”
referring to “the good works which are held, possessed or owned”
“otherwise” or
“are of a different sort” “cannot be hid”
which means “in direct contrast are unable to hide, conceal
or be escaped”. In other words, though some good works are
unrevealed to others, they will be manifested at the time of the
final judgment.
As we meditate
upon Paul's words, we may think of the “good works” within
which we or others have participated. Some of those “good works”
other people know about, and some of them no one knows except the
Lord Jesus. Paul's idea was that Timothy be a minister who
acknowledged not only the widely known “sins” of men, but
also the “good works” of them as well. Some of these “good
works” would be openly revealed to him as a minister, and he
should attend to them just as he was to attend to widely known
“sins”. Some “good works” would only to be
known by the Lord, and Timothy could be certain to know that our
Heavenly Father would attend to them. Perhaps as we think through
these things we will be challenged to be busy about “good
works”, and whether they are known or unknown by others, we can
be certain God above knows and will attend to all our good deeds.
Next
time we begin the final chapter of Paul's first letter to Timothy
where he writes concerning servants and masters, so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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