Today’s devotion comes from 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
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It is hard enough to pass the overseer a/k/a elder test with just verses 2 and 3. And then, you come to verse 4. Who can keep his children under control with all dignity?! I must admit that I have been jealous from time to time seeing some mother leading her children on a walk, and the children were all lined up walking in a perfect line and in perfect step like a mother duck leading her ducklings.
And then to top it off, you come to verse 7. You might be able to give a good enough impression on Sunday morning, but who can stand up to the observations of the rest of the world 24/7 for the rest of the week?!
But, there is hope!
Like God gave all that a mother duck needs to lead her ducklings, God can give all that his chosen elder needs to lead a church.
Christ gave spiritual gifts. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” Ephesians 4:11-12.
None of us is perfect this side of heaven, but our Lord can make an elder’s way blameless enough to be an elder.
“For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
And sets me upon my high places.” Psalm 18:31-33.
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
And sets me upon my high places.” Psalm 18:31-33.
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. …” Ephesians 1:3-4.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 