Do you ever find while reading your Bible that a statement jumps out and grabs your attention? I keep my eyes open for such statements. When I find one, I stop and reflect on it. I ask, “Why did this statement grab me?” “What might God be saying to me?”
It’s important not to limit your reflection on the statement alone. After you think you grasp what it really says, go back and read the context around the statement. If the context supports what you understood the statement to mean, then prayerfully apply it to your life. I call this an impact statement.
Such a statement is found in 1 Timothy 4:16: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Watch and persevere in two areas – your life and doctrine. Your life covers your behavior. Your doctrine covers what you believe. Some watch their behavior closely but neglect their doctrine. Others watch their doctrine but forget to watch their behavior. Unfortunately, some don’t watch either. The combination and harmony between both creates the spiritual synergism that saves both you and others.
What we believe, that is our doctrine, should impact the way we live. It should never be, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Rather, “Watch my life and listen to what I say. Then obey by following my example.” That’s a high standard, but if you read the context in which this impact statement is found you will understand the reason for such a high standard.
In our next visit we will look at the context of chapter 4 more thoroughly.
