“Be diligent in these matters: give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” (1 Timothy 4:15 NIV).
Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:11-16 are not just pastoral instructions; they are a summons to a life that is visibly rooted in Christ. It is a summons to embodied discipleship, spiritual diligence, and visible transformation. A life that others can read, follow, and be nourished by.
As a disciple of Christ, engaging with Christ begins with engaging His Word, not as a distant doctrine, but as a living voice that shapes our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (v.12). To engage with Christ is to immerse oneself in His Word, allowing it to nourish, correct, and inspire. Like a tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8), the believer who meditates on Scripture flourishes even in seasons of drought.
Engaging with Christ means stewarding what He has placed within us, not for personal acclaim, but for the edification of the body. God’s gifts in our lives are not ornaments; they are instruments. They must be cultivated, exercised, and surrendered to Christ’s purposes.
Engaging with Christ is a spiritual engagement that is meant to be expressed in the physical. It is not static but dynamic, visible, and contagious. So that, when others witness our growth, they are invited to pursue their own. Engagement with Christ requires vigilance over our hearts, our doctrine, and our example. It is a call to integrity, not just activity. May the Lord help us to understand and distinguish between spiritual engagement and just mere activities.
Rev. Moses Abayomi Sodeinde
