July 28
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1 TIMOTHY 1
8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
– 1 Timothy 1:8-11
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1 TIMOTHY 1 WHO THE LAW IS MADE FOR
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
God loved us all so he gave us precepts to follow
These laws were given to protect his own people
The law is good if only we use it properly
It is not made so we can abuse its authority.
The commandments of the Lord reflect his order
Following it will bring peace instead of chaos and disorder
Ignoring the directive that God gave us reflect lawlessness
It shows that we do not honor our God who is righteous.
The Lord made those laws to separate the godly from the ungodly
It exposes the sins that is so prevalent in the wicked and unbelieving
The faithful ones follow these commandments and keep them pure
The rebels do not heed these guidelines for they love their idols.
Let us never take for granted these commandments that God gave us
They are boundaries against all the tactics and ploys of the enemy
When we honor these precepts, we manifest our love for the Lord
When we disobey them, we show that we love the systems of this world.
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REFLECTION
• What were the sins that were emphasized on these verses by Paul as he instructs Timothy about who the law was made for?
• When does the law work for us and when does it not work? Why is this so?