Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-06-20-2018

This is devotional thought number 65 in our devotional series titled, “The Gospel According to Paul.”

“This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.” The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity. But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless. Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect. Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 3:1–13, NET).

I am tempted to share a one-liner as our thought for the day, but do not wish to risk trivializing today’s counsel. Frankly, if I simply said, all spiritual leaders in the faith must be real Christians, that would just about cover it. Ironically, I sat on a panel one time, where even some church leaders said that if we held to the standard in Paul’s counsel, we would not have enough leaders to serve. What? Since when has God needed numbers to accomplish His will on the earth? Salvation was made possible by one Man, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Gideon's army was whittled down to only 300 dedicated soldiers. Only three Hebrew young men stood firm against Nebuchadnezzar’s vitriol and command to worship falsely. Need I say more?

Notice what Paul did not say anywhere as the Spirit guided him through the job description for spiritual leaders. He never said that anyone being considered for service here should generate their own holiness. He never said they needed to be innately holy. He never said they were to trust themselves into perfection. Truth is: if any of us, whether man or woman, were to aspire to the standards written here, we would fall miserably short of the mark, generate our own rules of righteousness, and then oppress others who do not meet our contrivances. That is to say, we would become modern day Pharisees, and that’s not good.

Our thought today is intended to elevate our feeble expectations of our Great God and Father in heaven. It is meant to laud the power and victory of Jesus Christ, the King. It is intended to engender thanks for the blessed Holy Spirit, who seals power within those who are continually submitted to His control. In our own strength, this list might as well said we needed to make ourselves 70-feet tall and leap buildings in a single bound. In our own strength, it would be impossible to live according to God’s standards of righteousness, let alone becoming humble and submitted enough to lead God’s people.

What then? What was the point of this exercise? Consider all that God requires of you. Now consider the blessing of the power of God, unto salvation given...