Today's Scripture
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: 1 Samuel 27-29; 1 Timothy 3
Setting an example – 1 Timothy 3:1-13
This saying is reliable: if anyone has a goal to be a supervisor[a] in the church, they want a good thing. 2 So the church’s supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching. 3 They shouldn’t be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy. 4 They should manage their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect, 5 because if they don’t know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God’s church? 6 They shouldn’t be new believers so that they won’t become proud and fall under the devil’s spell. 7 They should also have a good reputation with those outside the church so that they won’t be embarrassed and fall into the devil’s trap.
8 In the same way, servants[b] in the church should be dignified, not two-faced, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. 9 They should hold on to the faith that has been revealed with a clear conscience. 10 They should also be tested and then serve if they are without fault. 11 In the same way, women who are servants[c] in the church should be dignified and not gossip. They should be sober and faithful in everything they do. 12 Servants[d] must be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and their own households well. 13 Those who have served well gain a good standing and considerable confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
I’ll be honest. The bar Paul sets for both the supervisors (Elders in other translations) and servants (deacons in other translations) are quite high. We should not see this as a bar to enter the kingdom. There is no such bar we will have to meet to enter into God’s presence. However, Pual’s teaching emphasized on the leadership aspect of the church. Remember from the Bible Project video (https://youtu.be/7RoqnGcEjcs) how the church was suffering because of poor leadership? Paul is pointing out that through poor leadership, we can affect another person’s salvation. After all, that was the priority for Paul, sharing the Good News to everyone.
As a follower and a disciple-maker, we need to have an honest understanding of our life and leadership and see how God’s grace covers all our limitations. Through that grace, even though we might not meet the bar, that we become able to share the Good news. But also as we strive to live for that mission, I pray that my life will reflect the bar that Paul commanded the followers to reach.
Prayer
Lord, when we pray show us your way. Pour out your grace, so we can share you Good News to this world. In Christ name we pray, Amen.
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