Psalm 137: 7-9  The psalmist asks The Lord to remember Edom.  This nation, descended from Esau, boasted over the demise of Israel, his brother Jacob's nation.  They gloated "over your brother's day, the day of his misfortune" ( Obadiah 1:12 ) .  Babylon was an instrument in God's Hand for judgement against Israel, but they also would be judged for their wickedness.  The psalmist prays and the prophet preaches the same message.  " How blessed will be the one who repays you with the recompense with which you repaid us." Ps. 137:8 and " As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on you own head." (Obadiah 1:15b).   This truth brings me back again to the teachings of Jesus.  We are judged as we judge. We are forgiven as we forgive.  Our actions and words have consequences.  "Set a guard O Lord, over my mouth"  Ps. 141:3.  "Teach me the way in which I should walk".   God of Heaven and Earth, The Lord God Almighty, Whose greatness is unsearchable, Whose loving-kindness is great, Who is kind to all , and Who hears the cries of those who fear You.  Your Hand is not too short.  You can do all things.  I ask You to give me a heart of love and grace.  A heart to forgive.  A heart that shows Your mercy to others.  Amen.

I Tim. 4
Paul gives Timothy encouragement in fighting the good fight.  He gives a contrast between the false teachers and the good teachers.  The false teachers are those who:
fall away from the faith;
pay attention to deceitful spirits;
have the doctrines of demons;
are hypocritical liars;
are seared in their own conscience;
insist on outward religious rituals - abstaining from marriage and certain foods.
As a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Timothy is instructed by Paul to:
Receive all of God's provisions with thankfulness.
Be constantly in the Word, nourishing himself with sound doctrine.
Ignore any false teaching.
Concentrate on spiritual disciplines that lead to godliness.
Preach the Word, hope in God, live as an example.
In speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity - Christ will be seen in us.   This is only possible when we do as Paul instructed Timothy.  "give attention to the public reading of Scripture" ( v. 13);
"Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them," (v. 15); and "Pay close attention to yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things;" (v16).
"you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." v6.
It is the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, that enables us to fight the good fight and be a good servant of Christ.  If we do not know the Truth we will not stand.  We will fall from the faith, we will be deceived, and we will become seared in our own conscience.  We will be as unbelievers:  "being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart." Ephesians 4:18.   As Christians, we are called to speak the Truth.  The church is the pillar and support of the truth.  Our goal is "love from a pure heart, and a good conscience and a sincere faith." I Tim. 1:5.   Pray for all men, we are told, for God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth".  Like Timothy we are to be examples - by our speech, our conduct, our love, our faith, and our purity.  Pay close attention, take pains, and persevere in these things.  O Shepherd,  I hear Your voice today.  Lead me! Amen.