You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12 ESV)
"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
ReplyDeleteAt first I was almost surprised to see this verse here. It seems so obvious. If we call ourselves Christians, then our hope is in God. And if our hope is in God, then we should "labor and strive" after Him. It's so simple and straightforward it's almost mindless. And I think that's the danger. Once I have accepted something there are two possibilities: I can embrace it and keep it in the forefront of my mind, or I can accept it without a second thought. This second option is a real shame because I am presented every day with the incredible truth that there is hope in Christ, who has overcome the world. There is nothing boring or mundane about this, but repetition and overexposure can ruin almost anything.
I imagine that's why Paul included this verse. It contains no great new truth, but rather a truth we should constantly cling to. I highly doubt Paul wrote this verse thinking that Timothy had forgotten the reason for his faith. I think Paul knew that this truth was too good to lose its power over us. He wanted to remind Timothy that our purpose is grand, and our hope is in something eternal. Grace is too amazing for us to keep that status quo.