June 24

1 Timothy 5:1–2 (NIV84)
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

The ABC’s of treating one another are found here. Doesn’t it just make sense? If you are going to bring a problem to someone older than you, or I might even say older in the Lord than you, do it like he was your father, and you have a good, respectful and honoring relationship with him. The word “rebuke” can me “to strike” or to strongly disapprove as a form of punishment. Do I need to say that you shouldn’t do that behind his back to others? Expressing a strong disapproval about something someone did to another IS punishing and needs to be avoided.

Then the Spirit goes on to talk about peers and older women and younger women. With the younger He throws in the phrase “with purity” which means with no moral defect. Obviously this is talking about treating young women with propriety and not as a sexual object to gratify our eyes or flesh. Young men (and old) are supposed to guard the honor of young women and not exploit it. This means that (hold on to your seats), that casual dating may in fact have a direct challenge from the Word of God. If you are supposed to treat the younger women as sisters and with moral uprightness, this question must be asked; would you casually date your sister and kiss her good night or more?

I know, I know, I am taking the Bible too literal. I am just like that. I think that when the Bible talks about salvation or heaven or healing or supply, it is literal – just shoot me! We need to be real careful not to pick and choose the scriptures that we will obey. There is life in every one of them and I would submit to all of us that verses 1 and 2 of 1 Timothy are inspired by God and came directly from His Spirit. If so, then we all need to submit to His instructions – because that is who we have become.