The Miracle of Inspiration
Part Thirteen
Receiving Good with Gratitude
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We have seen how Satan spreads false doctrine through lying spirits. He shifts attention from the Word of God, to the deceitful spirits and the doctrines of demons. God, however, helps believers focus upon His power and His goodness.
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
1 Timothy 4:4
God Created Good. God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). As we think about the all the things God has created, we see that God intends for us to receive His gifts with gratitude. In the context of 1 Timothy 4:4, we see that God draws particular attention to marriage and eating foods. God created marriage and intends for His children to marry. Of course, not everyone has to marry, because Jesus married only the church, and not an individual woman. Likewise, we know that any false teacher spreads lies and deceit by restraining believers from eating foods created by God. We need to keep in mind that God wants us to receive all of His good with gratitude.
for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:5
Sanctified Marriage and Food. Christians ought to be thoroughly familiar with the word “sanctified” (“ἁγιάζεται“). Sanctify means to set apart as holy, for God’s use. As a verb, it means: (1) to make something holy and (2) to keep something holy. It refers to both a process and a state of being. In your life, Christ sanctified you by removing your sins by faith in His death on the cross–you have been sanctified by the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11). In your life, Christ also continues to sanctify your behavior every day (1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 17:17). We see in 1 Timothy 4:5 that marriage and food require two things: (1) the sanctification of God through the Word of God and (2) prayer. In Acts 10:9-16, we see that God taught Peter that all creatures had been cleansed by God, and were not unholy. Peter then applied this principle from God to receiving the Gentiles into the church (Acts 10:28). Paul also applied the food principle that “food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (1 Corinthians 8:8). Paul warned against decrees issued by false teachers promoting the elementary principles of the world: “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (Colossians 2:20-21). Paul taught that believers had died with Christ to such worldly teaching. No one except Christ may act as our judge regarding food, festivals, drinks, new moon, or Sabbath days (Colossians 2:16-17). Therefore, Christ sanctifies us and renders food clean. Christ does, however, set the example of prayer before eating food. In John 6:11, Jesus gave thanks before he distributed the five barley loaves and two fish to feed five thousand. Jesus still gave thanks in prayer, even before He worked the miracle. Therefore, we see from the example of Christ that God sanctifies all things for us (Romans 14:20).
So we learn more about the Word of God today.
● God intends for us to enjoy all the good things He has created.
● God intends for us to be grateful when we enjoy all the good things He has provided.
● God sanctifies the things we enjoy through His word and prayer.
Application for Today
As I live today, I will enjoy all the good things God has created for me. I intend to be grateful for all He provides to me. I will pray in thanks for all God provides to me, just like Jesus prayed and thanked God for all He provides every day. Will you be enjoying all the good things God created for us, and thanking Him for them today?
Receiving Good with Gratitude
