On the morning I wrote this blog, I had just completed reading 1Timothy in the Bible for my devotion. Honestly, I couldn’t help but notice this time around the word “doctrine”. Halfway through my Bible reading practice this year, (I seek to read through the Bible once each year) I decided to switch versions. I started reading the King James Version.
In just over thirteen times of reading through the Bible each year, I’d never noticed this word so conspicuously as I did this time. I knew it must be for a reason. God must have wanted me to take note of something! In 1Timothy alone, it appeared nine times. Other Bible versions will use different words. No wonder I didn’t quite notice it before. They will render it as teaching, right teaching, good teaching, true teaching, godly teaching and good instruction.
The New Living Translation renders it in 1Timothy 6:3 as
“…the sound wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life.”
Now look at the following words by Paul to the younger Timothy:
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Tim 4:16 KJV)
Taking heed or watching himself and his doctrine, continuing in them, would not just be about Timothy; it was also going to be about others. He would save himself and his hearers.
Christianity is not an individualistic religion. It is not just for “me, myself and I”. It is about me and others mutually benefitting from what God is doing in and through me. It about being my brother’s keeper as well. It is about ensuring that my doctrine and way of life combined, will ‘preach’ to others as it were. Whether I speak out (doctrine) or live out my life before others, God will be glorified.
Now, where am I going with all this? What does this have to do with formations of a noble woman? It is my sincere hope and prayer that you are understanding why doctrine is so important for the Christian. I hope you can understand that it will be important for you as a woman to watch your life and doctrine closely.
Why is this important?
In the same book, 1Timothy, Paul mentions doctrine with other sources in mind as he warns Timothy. For instance, he charges Timothy with the responsibility of ensuring no other doctrine is taught except the true doctrine. We will get to it in a moment. What this means is that some were teaching other doctrines! He writes in 1 Timothy 4;1 that one of those doctrines are the doctrines of demons. In chapter 1, he is basically describing what I could only call the doctrines of men.
It is quite possible to find yourself as a woman entangled with another doctrine except the true and sound doctrine. It is also possible to find yourself dabbling with the wrong doctrine while at the same time wanting to continue in what you know to be the right doctrine. This double standard will not lead to the kind of formation that will glorify God. The formation that will glorify God is the one stemming from a foundation firmly based on the Word of God from which springs the true sound doctrine.
Google’s English Dictionary defines doctrine as:
A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group
The closest reference to what we are talking about from this definition is: A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church.
Which is the right doctrine therefore? From where do I get the right set of beliefs that will define my worldview? From the Bible! We will get it from having the right foundation. This right foundation is: Hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice! I’ve written a little more about this in this blog post here.
The Bible is the story of a perfect God creating a perfect earth and hence a perfect Eden. It is the story of the fall in Genesis 3 and the story of our perfect God restoring us back to Himself. It is the story of the coming new heaven and new earth at the full and perfect restoration of all things. The entire Bible is the story of Jesus. This Bible is the source of all true doctrine for the believer and hence, the believing woman.
Your formation as a noble woman will happen because your doctrine is right. This formation will continue to take place because you are continuing in the Word, the Bible, and hence forming the right doctrine for life and godliness. You must determine to get rooted in God’s Word. You must make the choice to be established in His Word. Check out this blog here.
You won’t see instantaneous transformation. I can however assure you that the moment you begin to immerse yourself in God’s Word, transformation will begin to happen. The Bible does not promise us instant results when it comes to growth and transformation. On the contrary, we see many scriptures in the Bible exhorting us to wait patiently on the Lord. he will bring to pass what He has purposed in forming you and I into the virtuous women He wants us to be.
You might have read in this same blog post how I began devotionally reading God’s Word daily. I didn’t experience instantaneous result. I was however, keenly aware that I was changing. I can trace my formations as a woman beginning then. God will give you glimpses of this transformation as you go along but on the whole, He wants you to trust Him. He wants you to keep at it. Keep communing with Him, trusting He is at work as you do so.
As I come to a close, let me share this little story: I remember back then, a number of months after I began immersing myself in God’s Word and praying as a way of life, a trusted fellow student in high school came and told me how she overheard two students chatting about me. I had been quite sharp mouthed. I was known to respond to others very harshly with hurtful words when they displeased me. One asked the other what had happened to me. The other responded, “You don’t know?” she quipped. “She got born again.” She answered back.
You don’t know how encouraging that was to a new believer! God used that to help me realize that my fellowship with Him in the Word and prayer was worth it! I was getting transformed! You too will get transformed. Start this communion with Him. This will be the basis for the right true doctrine; the doctrine necessary to facilitate the kind of formation you need to be a woman of noble character.