1 Timothy 4:16 English Standard Version (ESV) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

The primary definition of the Greek word for persist is “to abide in”, “to tarry”.

Today I was in a conversation with a Chess Club leader who asked me to join his club. While I was grateful for the invitation I declined stating that my memory skills are not what they once were. When I penned these words I saw in them a spiritual truth. “Memory is like any other muscle, if you do not exercise it regularly, it weakens.”

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy was to persist in bible reading and teaching and to keep a close watch on himself. I believe that what Paul was referring to when he said to keep a close watch on ourselves is to make sure that none of our life skills have declined. This goes for all aspects of this life in Christ, not just memory.

In saying we can save ourselves, we must remember that salvation is not a one and done deal. We are saved daily, that the Holy Spirit is an active agent of change for our own good and the good of others.

Why would we want to give up our climb to the top just because we are winded in any moment?

The natural order of humanity is deterioration. When I was sixteen I ran three miles every day. Now at seventy-five I have to will myself to walk two miles. I ran as a teen for the fun of it. I walk now for my health. Attitude is as much a part of this life in Christ as our physical conditioning.

Life skills in Christ are subject to our will to be persistent. Take on the attitude that “I’m already there” and we will not get to experience what Christ has waiting for us around the corner.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 English Standard Version (ESV) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,^[a] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Footnote ^[a]  Or disorderly, or undisciplined

Here is a little secret that is not said about this verse; submission.

Romans 13:5 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

1 Peter 5:5 English Standard Version (ESV) Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We should make it clear to everyone who is a disciple or teaching a disciple that submission is required, what that entails, and what is expected of both disciple and teacher.

The footnote is added to help us distinguish the issue of idle. Idle can mean that the motor is running but the transmission is not in gear. Disorderly means one has received the rules and is in violation. Undisciplined means one has not learned self-control. All three are different and must needs be addressed differently.

How we encourage the fainthearted needs to be tempered by why they are fainthearted. How can we know what that might be if we are not subject one to another? Submission.

The same might we said of the weak. Weak of body, weak of will, weak of spirit, how are they weak? Once again, submission.

Be patient with them all. Teacher with disciple and disciple with teacher. If the lessons have not addressed all the issues for each disciple yet, be patient, our training does not end for any of us, because we learn every day.

It does not matter how mature you are in Christ, there is always room for growth.