But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen

I love to read the endings to Paul's letters. As I read this and the next five verses, (tomorrow's VT) I hear him bubbling with joy. The entire book of 1 Timothy, all the preceding 5 ½ chapters, is only an excuse to break out in this overflowing paean of praise. How dull and lifeless are our letters today between churches. If they correspond at all!

There is no question here that Paul regards Timothy as his son in the faith. We, Betty and I, understand to a certain degree whenever we get an opportunity to speak with one of our sons or daughters in the faith.

Reading.

Morning Psalm 39, Noon Psalm 119:1-8, Evening Psalm 132