1 Timothy 4:15-16 Let me see your progress report

Ask most coaches and they will tell you that most athletes make their biggest strides between the first and second year of joining a program. A player moving from their freshman to sophomore year should show some serious progress because they have now been in the system for a year. They know the team’s schemes and have been a part of the team workouts and culture for a year so now it is time for them to show what they are made of. Their progress should be evident for everyone who has been around the team. Paul tells Timothy that his spiritual growth should be on full display so that everyone may see his progress in his relationship with God. He tells him to concentrate on the things he had told him in this letter and make sure that everyone can see his growth. He also tells him to that he needs to be on guard and making sure his doctrine is in line with the truth.

What if God gave us a progress report at the end of each year like a college coach gives their players at the end of each season? Paul told Timothy that his growth in his relationship with God should be evident to all those around him, what about our spiritual growth? Shouldn’t everyone around us be able to see that we are daily growing closer to God. When we meet people on the street who we haven’t seen in a while shouldn’t they say, “Wow, Pete has really matured spiritual.” Shouldn’t they see more of Jesus and less of us. For this to be a reality we must be continually growing closer to God, we can’t get stagnant or stand still we must keep moving forwards. We can’t live our lives trying to impress the world around us or get a pat on the back for how awesome we are but if we are walking closely with God then the world should see our progress. They should see us changing and transforming more and more into the image of Jesus Christ.