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FIRST THINGS FIRST Read: 1 Timothy 4:12–16 Bible in a Year: Daniel 5–7; 2 John Watch your life and doctrine closely. 1 Timothy 4:16 When you travel by air, before the flight takes off an airline employee presents a safety briefing, which explains what to do if there is a loss of cabin pressure. Passengers are told that oxygen masks will drop from the compartment above and they are to put one on themselves before helping others. Why? Because before you can help anyone else, you need to be physically alert yourself. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he stressed the importance of maintaining his own spiritual health before helping and serving others. He reminded Timothy of his many responsibilities as a pastor: There were false teachings to contend with (1 Tim. 4:1–5) and wrong doctrines to correct (vv. 6–8. But to discharge his duties well, what was most important was to “watch [his] life and doctrine closely [and] persevere in them” (v. 16). He needed to take care of his own relationship with the Lord first before he could attend to others. Set an example ... in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 What Paul told Timothy applies to us too. Each day we encounter people who do not know the Lord. When we tank up on our spiritual oxygen first through time in God’s Word, prayer, and the enabling of the Holy Spirit, we keep our relationship right with God. Then we will be spiritually alert to help others. Lord, open Your Word to me now. Let me breathe in its freshness before I go out to be Your light to the world. A Christian’s life is the window through which others can see Jesus. 
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This so true..... when we take care of ourselves, spiritually, emotionally, and physically, we are much more able to help others. Deborahsu, did you see the reply I wrote to you on the blog about empathy a few days ago? Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
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