“Our closest relationships are bursting with life because we serve the living God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 28, 2025
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:14-15, NKJV
As a parent, one of the primary things you must do is establish house rules for your children. They need to know where the boundaries of acceptable behavior are, and if they cross them, it must be addressed. This may vary from family to family, but many of the house rules are the same. “Be kind to one another.” “Treat adults with respect.” “Look people in the eye when they talk to you.” “Chew with your mouth closed.” “No dessert until your plate is clean.”
Interestingly, in my house growing up, there wasn’t a manual of acceptable behavior that I could reference, no exhaustive list of do’s and don’ts that ensured I was within the acceptable standards. No, it was discerned in communion, in relationship with my parents and siblings, and as I grew and became more fully the man I was made to be, the rules grew with me. More was expected of me than when I was a child, yet again, this was always a living process of ongoing discernment, born out of mutual love and trust.
The same is true for our life with God.
Though Paul did write explicit guidelines for Timothy on how people should conduct themselves in the house of God, these written words were an extension of the living relationship that Paul had with his spiritual son. Our closest relationships are bursting with life because we serve the living God. And so, even though the church is here described as “the pillar and ground of the truth,” this truth is always meant to be experienced and embodied. We learn how to live out that which is true by abiding in communion with the Lord and with those faithful leaders who lovingly train and teach us how to walk the narrow road of peace.
Prayer
Father, teach us afresh how we are meant to live and flourish within your family, learning daily from others how we can best serve you as your faithful sons and daughters, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Give thanks today for the men or women who have lovingly taught you the “house rules” of the family of God.
Related Reading
Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 5:14; 1 Peter 2:5
Worship Resource
Jon Foreman: House of God Forever (Live)
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