We've now broken into the internet series barrier on 1 Timothy 4:12 with my last entry regarding leaving a lasting impression of love. Similar to the calls by Paul for Timothy to be an example in speech and conduct, with love, he is encouraging us to be wise in our interactions with others, for we represent Christ to those who don't know Him. It's time to deal with something a little more difficult (at times) than just our interactions. This time around, we are going to learn more about Paul's charge to Timothy to be an example "in faith." A few months ago, I wrote an essay about a self-described "falling out" of faith. I addressed my fear that the word 'faith' is beginning to mean less and less in our world today, even in circles of followers of Christ. We hear the word, and instantly we turn and hide behind a faith in God, or a belief that God will grow us, provide for us, and take care of us. We never take the time to search the context and realize what the faith in scripture really means, and in 1 Timothy 4:12, we have lost the meaning that Paul sought to present.

Deriving his words from the Greek word "pistis," Paul was encouraging Timothy to set an example in persuasion, credence, and moral conviction. In our own language, Paul was encouraging Timothy much more in faithfulness than in his foundational faith. Inherently, there is an acknowledgement by Paul for Timothy to display both random and regular acts of reliance and moral conviction. He was doing more than telling Timothy to simply "have faith"; He was urging Timothy to step up to the plate and fully rely on Christ at all times, rather than to do it only when he felt others were watching.

Have you ever had someone walk into your room when you weren't expecting them to? Maybe you had a few guests over your house and cleaned every inch of living room space, but threw a few books, bags, and baskets of clothes on your bedroom floor, only to have someone check it out uninvited? It's quite the vulnerable feeling, knowing that your entire life is available for someone to be looking at, because at that point, you really have no secrets. Now, what do you think runs through the mind of the person who possibly mistakenly walked into your room? Might they sense a degree of inconsistency in your life? Might they question your consistency in other areas? Might their opinion of you even drop altogether?

This call to be an example in faith is much more than a call to step up and lean on God. To be an example in such areas as reliance, credence, and moral conviction, we must be willing and able to show a constancy and consistency in our lives that is simply unmatched in society. We must be (and I'm scared to say this) willing and able to open our bedroom door and allow guests to see that our private life is as faithful and impacted by truth as the lives we live when others gaze upon us. Our world behind closed doors is as devoted to Christ as our world out in the open.

Every piece of this scripture verse calls us to work on our relations with other people until now. We are not solely called to watch our interactions, our discussions, or our acts of love with others, rather we are called to a life of constant faithful consistency, whether our actions are seen or unseen.

It's time to clean my bedroom,

Bobby