Daily Digest

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

I take three things from this passage of Scripture:

1. Avoid useless arguments over words and stop talking about unimportant things.  ie. “Don’t sweat small stuff”.  The reason Paul says this is because not only will it lead you astray but those in your hearing as well.  We don’t want to turn people away from the Christian faith because of some silly or thoughtless thing we have said.

2.  Work hard!  Can’t put any spin on this one just work hard.  Make sure you know God’s word and what it means.

3. The ultimate fallback – “But God’s truth stands firm like a great rock, and nothing can shake it.” Reading God’s word and having it as a foundation in your life will show you what is important and what you should spend time doing.  It also centres your life on God’s truth preventing worthless discussions that don’t build faith. Always come back to and stay in God’s word!

Dear God, thank you so much for your Word.  As I read the Bible may your words transform my conversations and what I devote time to, Amen.

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods

2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

I like how cryptic Paul is sometimes. His original readers must have looked at each other in bewilderment at times and asked “what does he mean by that?”

This passage is one of those. Paul encourages us to face suffering like a soldier, an athlete and a farmer.

Soldiers are tough and focused. They don’t crumble when things get hard. Am I like that when suffering comes my way?

Athletes follow the rules to the letter so they don’t get disqualified. Do I maintain my integrity even in the face of hardship? Or do I teeter on the brink of disqualification in moments of testing?

Farmers don’t farm for nothing. There is a harvest if they work hard. And there is a reward for me if I persevere. Am I focusing on the finish line, the reward, and letting that thought get me through this season of suffering?

Lord, please keep me and help me be strong in this season of suffering.

Amen

Written by Boudy van Noppen

8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

This passage provides me with such practical advice and encouragement: do not be ashamed of our Lord, He saved us by His own purpose and grace, He has destroyed death and brought life and immortality, the gospel is no cause for shame, keep the pattern of sound teaching with faith and love in Jesus Christ, and guard what the Holy Spirit has given and entrusted you.

It is passages like these, full of truth and passion, that stoke the fires of my soul. When I awake and let His Word work within me, I can’t help but seek ways to make God known. I am not ashamed of Christ’s testimony, teaching the Word, and suffering (albeit it nothing like Paul) for the gospel. My service becomes centred around the fact that “I know whom I have believed.” Nothing can compare to the one who will reign forever!

Lord, we thank you for the unbreakable bond of love you hold us with. Thank you that we can cast our concerns and bleakest moments to you. You know us, love us, and guard us. We entrust all we have to you, Lord. In your precious name, Jesus.
Amen

Written by Sven Bessesen

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

Sharing can be hard. A simple statement, but its simplicity does not detract from the truth of it! Most of us would say that we know sharing is important, and we certainly get taught it from a very young age. And yet, I’m almost positive that each of us has certain possessions, relationships and resources that we actually don’t want to share with others. This can often come from our own fears or insecurities – if I let others use this item, it could break or not be returned. If I share my friendships by including others into the friend group, I could be the one who ends up feeling left out. If I share my money and financial resources, there may not be enough left for me.

In this passage, Paul is specifically directing those who have wealth to give freely and be willing to share, for in this they will store up true riches for themselves. For me, reading this is such a good reminder of something we all know but need to be acting on continuously. Regardless of what we have, whether a small or large amount, we should not place our security in any kind of riches which, as Paul reminds us, are so fleeting and uncertain. Yet how easy it is to slip into this! To find security and purpose in what we have, as opposed to who we belong to – Jesus. The world we live in places so much focus and importance on always having more and more, never being satisfied. What better way to live counter culturally than to be willing to share what we have with others, and trust that God will provide for all our needs.

God thank you that you are always our ultimate provider. We give you thanks and honour for all that you have given us, that you richly provide us with everything to enjoy. Help us to live so securely in you, that we desire to share what you have given us with those around us. Amen.

Written by Ps. Madelaine Tarasenko

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I have to admit, I am stuck on the opening words of Paul in this section. He pulls no punches. Would I be prepared to go on the public record and say things like people who teach other than Jesus’ sound instruction are “conceited and understand nothing.”

These are bold words. This was a letter written to Timothy, and so may not have gone into public circulation, but Paul still wanted Timothy to be clear. There are people out there who are actually missing the point of Jesus entirely, for selfish gain. 

In the midst of a strongly politically correct world, I am challenged to be zealous for keeping Jesus’ actual teachings, in love, front and centre in my life and in the lives of those around me. 

Paul’s firey passion here is a call to step up. Not for quarrelling (he’s clearly against this in this passage), but to present the soundness of the truth about Jesus. For He is the Lord and Saviour of all, and nothing must be allowed to get in the way of people being able to come to Him. Especially sideshows that are driven by self-interest. 

Lord, fill me with fresh passion to serve you Jesus, and teach others the plain truth of your word and ways! 

Amen. 

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[a] and “The worker deserves his wages.”[b] 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favouritism. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

It seems people are more critical of leaders these days. A real supercritical culture has emerged, fed by the 24-hour news cycle. Mistakes are replayed over and over, every word is scrutinised. Being a leader is not easy. They can be a target for those whose agenda is to undermine.

Paul’s warnings to Timothy in these few verses speak against this culture of criticism, a culture which dishonours leaders of the body of Christ, the church. He calls Timothy to ensure the elders are honoured, but also reminds that they are accountable.

When I think of leaders of our body of Christ, I do not limit this to our pastors. I think also of the Board, the Vision Team and Connect Group leaders. God has reminded me that how I treat and respect our elders honours Him who has placed these elders amongst us and over us.  Paul also recognises the leaders are not superhuman and need our support and to be accountable to us. One vital part I can do is to pray for our leaders.

Paul is at pains to make these points to Timothy because he knows a time of persecution of the church is upon them. The body of Christ will need to be a strong community to survive the persecution which was coming. This means uniting behind the elders.

The responsibility lies with me and that is shown by my honouring the leaders of the church and also by avoiding gossip and grumbling when I don’t agree.

Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for our pastors, Board, Vision Team and Group leaders. Bless and protect them. Test their motivations and draw them to you. Amen

Written by Claire Moore

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

This is a good reminder for us as members of a family and a church – ‘religion begins at our own doorstep’ (MSG). 

God has placed us in families of origin, and we are specially placed in those families to love and care for each other in ways that those outside the family cannot. If we are inviting lonely and needy members of our church into our homes but we aren’t doing the same for our own relatives, we are neglecting one of the things God has given us to steward. 

However, God has also designed church to be a family. So likewise, if we are spending all our time caring for those in need outside the church (though this is also a great and necessary thing!) but there are people within our congregations who are in need, we are again neglecting one of the things God has given us to steward. One of the purposes of church is to be family, especially to those who do not have their own family. 

Lord this week please open my eyes to the needs of those at my own doorstep, family members by either blood/origin or spirit. Thank you that in every way you are a God of relationship! 

Written by Rhiannon Mellor

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Anyone who has known young kids understands that what we do teaches them more than what we say. Parents often cringe as they see their behaviour play-acted or repeated by their children. Although we may hide it better as we get older, we still imitate others, and sometimes justify our behaviour by what others do.

In this passage Paul is emphasising the value of living out our Christian faith by being a good example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Paul’s language shows how important this is. He says, “Be diligent”, “give yourself wholly to these matters”, “watch your life and doctrine closely”, “persevere in these matters”. Why is it so important? Because our good example says more to others than preaching to them, just like children noticing what their parents do.

Growing in godliness is a process that will continue for my whole life. I am all too aware of the times I fail in what I do and say, but I know that the Holy Spirit is with me, helping me become more like Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your grace. Thank you that you forgive me when my behaviour is not a good example. Please help me to grow in godliness so what I do can lead others to you.

Written by Megan Cornell

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Heal Country, heal our nation

July 4th -11th 2021 is Naidoc week in Australia. It is a time to listen, learn and celebrate together the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year Naidoc week is themed “Heal Country, heal our nation.” Heal Country is a call to seek greater protection of lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage. Our daily digests this week will focus on God’s creation and our part in it.

God has entrusted this earth to the people he has made, to both enjoy the earth and be responsible for it. Some of my deepest moments of awe and praise of God have come as I am stunned by the beauty of this land. I am daily renewed by its freshness.

But we have all been led astray by the evil one and made pacts with him. I have forsaken the good gifts of God for the counterfeit gifts of evil. The earth has suffered some of the consequences of my sin and groans as a result.

But Jesus made a way! A way to be forgiven, a way to be healed, a way to be guided past the schemes of the evil one. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, he brings heavenly realities back into my life. I belong to Jesus and that means I am a child of God!

This means that I am now bridge, and that I have the ability (and responsibility) to call on God’s will to be made visible on the earth, for the earth to feel his healing. God’s Kingdom encompasses all of creation, “Lord bring your Kingdom onto the earth, heal our country, and where needed, heal our hearts first!  Amen.”

Written by Andrew Mellor

13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. 14 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. 16 The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. 18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax. 19 He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. 20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. 23 Then people go out to their work, to their labor until evening. 24 How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. 26 There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. 27 All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. 30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Heal Country, heal our nation

July 4th -11th 2021 is Naidoc week in Australia. It is a time to listen, learn and celebrate together the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year Naidoc week is themed “Heal Country, heal our nation.” Heal Country is a call to seek greater protection of lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage. Our daily digests this week will focus on God’s creation and our part in it.

This is a beautiful description of God’s creation. The idea that came to me as I read this is how God puts things together so well – that everything has its place and is able to get what it needs to live. I also got the picture of trust. The idea that the creation trusts God and how He created the system – that they do what they were designed to do and the system keeps functioning well. Toward the end of the passage, it notes that His creation gathers as He draws near, is satisfied from His abundance and is devastated when He leaves them.

Do I set my eyes on the Lord? Do I ask Him about how I can work with His creation? Do I have that trust in God? That He has made a place in His creation where I work in well with everything else? It seems like it’s easy to lose that trust, to be focused on making sure we get what we think we need without paying attention to how the whole system is working, without fitting what we do into the smooth functioning of creation and when we all do that, we can overwhelm creation and damage it. It is easy to assume the earth is so big that we can’t break it. We might think we can change things but not actually break creation. Is that really true?

Our indigenous brothers and sisters lived here in Australia for a long time and yet the land was not overwhelmed. What the rest of us have done in just over 200 years is amazing but is it working in well with the fragile nature of this land. Are we paying enough attention? Perhaps it’s time to listen to our indigenous brothers and sisters – to ask for their ideas about how to keep God’s creation working well and to listen to the answers.

Be inspired by the beauty of the world around us, be curious about how creation works and how people can interrupt it, ask God how we can do better in looking after His amazing creation, listen to those who can speak to how creation is not functioning well – the animals and plants as well as the people. Be motivated by your love of God and His love for you and everyone and everything – through that comes healing for creation and for humanity.

Lord help us to keep our eyes on you, to listen to those you put in our path, to understand how we can impact our worlds – for good and for less than good. Help us to see deeper than the surface, to be curious to see what you see. Help us to be part of healing our country – both recognising things are not working well and by wanting to be part of helping our country to work better for all.

Written by Therese Manning

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labour you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Heal Country, heal our nation

July 4th -11th 2021 is Naidoc week in Australia. It is a time to listen, learn and celebrate together the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year Naidoc week is themed “Heal Country, heal our nation.” Heal Country is a call to seek greater protection of lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage. Our daily digests this week will focus on God’s creation and our part in it.

As I reflect on this passage, I cannot help but see that the original temptation that Satan taunted eve with was a temptation to overreach. The appeal to overreach God’s good design and take from a tree that was not hers to take from – because the fruit that was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gain – became too hard to refuse. And so, we introduced overreach as a destructive pattern, the sin-pattern, into the human identity, human culture, human systems, and human projects.

As we seek, during this NAIDOC week, to see healing come to our country and our land, may we recognise and repent of the sinful patterns of overreach that have infected our identities, our culture, our systems, and our projects. May we repent before the Lord, and receive His sure promise of healing. 

I need this healing. Healing that flows out from my identity, into the relationships I build and things I create, into the systems that I am part of, into the projects I commit to in the world. 

Jesus, you who became a curse for us so that we could become healed and the new righteousness of God in the land (2 Corinthians 5:21), heal me where I have grossly overreached your design for my life. And may that healing flow out into the world around me, restoring not only me, but those around, and ultimately our nation. Amen. 

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh

6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

“…physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things…” (v8).

We tend to think of physical training as hard effort, and usually it is. But the truth is effort tends to produce good results. Even if it gets repetitive or boring. Here Paul is encouraging Timothy to train in godliness or a “disciplined life in God” (The Message Bible) as it will make him fit.

In terms of being strong and healthy spiritually and soulfully, I ask myself, what am I doing regularly to strengthen my relationship with God and my human spirit/soul? Have some of my regular practices, like prayer and journaling, attending church, singing worship songs got a bit repetitive and so I slack off on them? Just like Timothy, I need to keep at it because it will keep me fit spiritually.  

But like a physical fitness program, maybe I need to change my routine up a bit? Ask yourself, when do I most feel connected to God? When does my spirit come alive? Is it when meeting with a Christian friend? Is it when I’m creating something? Is it when I do a deep dive into bible study? Is it when I’m dancing? Or watching the waves at the beach? Or sitting in solitude? Maybe it’s when surrounded by family? Or something else completely different…

Whatever strengthens your spiritual muscle, keep doing these things.

Father, I thank you that you are relational and that I can connect with you in meaningful ways. May I be disciplined to meet with you and follow your ways. Most of all, I am thankful that this godly training will reap a great reward: You. 

Written by Gab Martin

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

The power of the written word!  It’s seems that even the Apostle Paul himself did not fully understand the impact that his letters would have on generations to come.

Paul states here that he has written this letter to Timothy to be passed on as instruction to the church in case he doesn’t get there in person. It sounds to me like Paul is writing this letter as a Plan B, a sort of back-up plan, and not really understanding that his letters would be a treasured portion of scripture for us all to learn from 2,000 years later.  

Imagine, instead of writing his letter, Paul had decided to just wait until he saw the church in Ephesus in person to tell them these important things. If that were the case, none of what he said to the church in person would be recorded for us today. Thankfully, Paul was inspired to write his letters without fully understanding the long term impact they would have.

This helps me remember how God is able to direct us and use us in ways that we may not fully understand at the time.  Whether it’s writing a letter (or email), sending a text or making a phone call, I’m encouraged to listen to the Spirit’s prompting when He puts someone on my heart. I may never know the full impact of what may seem like a small act of reaching out to someone with a word of encouragement or exhortation.

What is the God’s Spirit prompting you to do today? May we each be sensitive to His voice and allow Him to use our simple acts of kindness to bless others.

Written by Shelley Witt

3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

What an impressive list of qualities! I seldom encounter leadership material that covers such personal characteristics; qualities that truly speak volumes of one’s heart. What makes Paul’s list even more remarkable is that these qualities are not of what one should do, but rather of what one should be.

I imagine a caricature of Timothy conducting job interviews for the church after posting in the ‘Ephesus Times’. Who would be fit to serve the church? Who could, above reproach, tend to the bride of Christ? How many would fail the lofty list outlined? Of course, this is not exactly how it really happened, but the severity and weight of this ‘noble task’ still stands. The high expectations go hand-in-hand with the Biblical importance of the role.

How does this parallel to my mentoring and spiritual teaching? As I witness for Christ, may I learn that more is learned through living than through lectures. In making disciples, followers of Christ for God’s Kingdom, I need to realise that those with great responsibility must also meet high expectations.

Lord, may the leadership in Your church reflect the qualities outlined in this passage. Guide our hearts to be good stewards and servants of the church. May those who aspire to this noble task be in your favour and love. Thank you for the leadership in our church and your continued presence in the ministry for You. In your precious name, Jesus.
Amen

Written by Sven Bessesen