16. “Take Heed Unto Thyself.”—“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.”1 Timothy 4:6. Thyself needs the first attention. First give yourself to the Lord for sanctification to His service. A godly example will tell more for the truth than the greatest eloquence unaccompanied by a well-ordered life. Trim the lamp of the soul, and replenish it with the oil of the Spirit. Seek from Christ that grace, that clearness of comprehension, which will enable you to do successful work. Learn from Him what it means to labor for those for whom He gave His life. The most talented worker can do little unless Christ is formed within, the hope and strength of the life (The Review and Herald, August 19, 1902).
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24, 25 (Revelation 20:12, 13). The Disposal of Sin—Some men′s sins are open beforehand, confessed in penitence, and forsaken, and they go beforehand to judgment. Pardon is written over against the names of these men. But other men′s sins follow after, and are not put away by repentance and confession, and these sins will stand registered against them in the books of heaven (Manuscript 1a, 1890).
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12 (see EGW comment on Galatians 5:6). Precious Promises—“Lay hold on eternal life.”(1 Timothy 6:12) Come to Jesus in faith. Ask, and ye shall receive. The forgiveness of sins is promised to him who repents, justification to him who believes, and the crown of life to him who is faithful unto death (Letter 33, 1895).
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20 (Colossians 2:8; see EGW comment on 1 John 2:18). Science and Religion Shed Light on Each Other—God is the foundation of everything. All true science is in harmony with His works; all true education leads to obedience to His government. Science opens new wonders to our view; she soars high and explores new depths; but she brings nothing from her research that conflicts with divine revelation. Ignorance may seek to support false views of God by appeals to science; but the book of nature and the written Word do not disagree; each sheds light on the other. Rightly understood, they make us acquainted with God and His character by teaching us something of the wise and beneficent laws through which He works (The Signs of the Times, March 20, 1884).
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Sophistry of False Science—We need to guard continually against the sophistry in regard to geology and other branches of science falsely so-called, which have not one semblance of truth. The theories of great men need to be carefully sifted of the slightest trace of infidel suggestions. One tiny seed sown by teachers in our schools, if received by the students, will raise a harvest of unbelief. The Lord has given all the brilliancy of intellect that man possesses, and it should be devoted to His service (The Signs of the Times, March 1, 1898).
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1, 2 (2 Timothy 4:6-9). Paul′s Second Letter to Timothy—This letter was written to Timotheus, the first bishop of the church at Ephesus, after Paul had been brought before Nero the second time to witness with his life to the faith he held. In placing on record this account of his trials through men who turned from the faith, Paul speaks words which should encourage our hearts as we pass over the same ground (The Signs of the Times, July 18, 1907).
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Affection Between Paul and Timothy—The apostle′s speech had gained him many friends, and he was visited by persons of rank, who accounted his blessing of greater value than the favor of the emperor of the world. But there was one friend for whose sympathy and companionship he longed in those last trying days. That friend was Timothy, to whom he had committed the care of the church at Ephesus, and who had therefore been left behind when Paul made his last journey to Rome.
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