1 Timothy 4:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,^{[be in them]} so that all may see your progress.

Progress is not the same thing as being progressive. They sound alike but at the core of the progressive is a need to be different. We are to conform to Christ. Think of progress as a great work by John Bunyan (1628– 1688) The Pilgrim’s Progress. That is an extensive work that heralds sixteen milestones of Christian life. Is it a paradox, and allegory or a religious vision?

Every good work presented by our predecessors is meant to encourage us to live a life moving towards one common goal, eternal life. Since that life begins at new birth and like all newborns we explore and discover this new life. Our progress tells us if we are on the right path or not.

Psalm 25:4-5 English Standard Version

⁴ Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. ⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Many of us have reached an age when our new birth are a far distant memory. For those of us that find ourselves in the infancy of this new life, is this prayer part of our experience? Do not feel guilty if it is not. We all begin with the milk of the Word, easy to digest and good for growth.

The words “make me” indicates a transition from being in charge to allowing God to take charge of our progress. We are often told as children we have to do this, this is right, don’t do that. Everything sounds legalistic and some of it is legal in form.

It takes progress to get from doing what is right because we are told, to doing right because that is who we are. He is the author and finisher of our faith even before we know what faith is and how it works.

2 Timothy 2:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,^{[after being tested]} a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Footnotes help us understand better the meaning behind some passages where there could be ambiguity. This testing however is not the same as being tested in school. It is being tested in how you manage truth by living out this Christian life.

Rightly handling has been expressed in other bible versions as rightly dividing, skillfully teaching, interpret, use the Word, and even cutting straight. Rightly dividing and cutting straight are two of the more colorful terms used in translation. It has been noted in the past by some as pointing to the daily sacrifices and how those sacrifices were prepared by the priest who were instructed to cut straight from the head down to the legs. Some would like to think this is exposing our daily sacrifices to see in truth what is inside. Some see direction, from the head, understanding, to the heart, exposing our intentions, all the way down to how we walk.

Here is what Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the subject: “The way of error is down-hill; one absurdity being granted or contended for, a thousand follow: Their word will eat as doth a canker, or gangrene; when errors or heresies come into the church, the infecting of one often proves the infecting of many, or the infecting of the same person with one error often proves the infecting of him with many errors.”

His descriptor for direction is down-hill, a leading away from the high places of worship. It is a slippery slope that makes it difficult if not impossible to attain to a true knowledge of our God, His promises and His plans for each of us.

Our testing demonstrates progress in living out His Word or are we just spinning our wheels.

1 Timothy 4:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,^{[be in them]} so that all may see your progress.