Get Your Facts Straight

Daily Reading: 1 Timothy 1-2

Scripture Focus: Without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions... (1 Timothy 1.7)

Devotional Thought: You've seen them. You've heard them. Sometimes, you've even been them! You know... the people who talk like they know what they are saying and who really have no clue! I remember many years ago, before Lana and I were married, that we attended a hockey game together. Lana's a football girl, so when they announced an offside penalty, she didn't really get it. She asked me what it meant. Trying my best to impress her, I explained in detail - with great confidence and gusto - just what it meant to be offsides. The trouble is, I gave her the definition of a soccer offside penalty. I was mortified when the gentlemen in front of us turned around and corrected me... in front of my girlfriend!

Paul warned Pastor Timothy about people who would talk a big game, but have no idea what they were saying. They do so because they...

· Have false confidence. Some people place their confidence in their own forcefulness or persuasiveness. Instead of placing their confidence in God, their pride drives them to be right - even if they're wrong. And usually, the more they are wrong, the more they assert their position.

· Don't know the facts. If we are going to speak about God (that's theology - God talk), shouldn't we get our facts from him? Today, many people are saying things that simply are not biblically sound. We need to be like the Old Testament scribe Ezra, who "set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel" (Ezra 7.10).

So, when you talk about God, make sure you understand what you are saying! There's no substitute for studying the Word of God!

Prayer: Lord, may my wisdom and my confidence be based upon your Word. Help me to "Do [my] best to present [my]self to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." Amen. (2 Timothy 2.15)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119.89-96

89 Forever, O Lord, your word

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91 By your appointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92 If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have given me life.

94 I am yours; save me,

for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.