The character of an Elder

S - TIT 1:5-9 NASB

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

O - Paul is writing this letter to Titus, one of his former disciples whom he left to lead the church in Crete.      Much like his letters to Timothy, Paul is giving instruction to Titus so he might know how to strengthen the local church, to ensure it stays holy and true to God's word and truth.     This particular passage gives instruction as to the character of Elders  Just by the fact that Paul points out these character traits of elders, leads me to conclude two things,    Elders are an important foundation in  a solid church,   and second at some point in time the wrong elders had been chosen and consequences of that were visible or discernable.    The list is a tall order to fill, but one in which is neccessary to ensure the health and well being of the church is being fostered and guarded. 

A -  The application for me is to understand that I am not to desire to be an elder but I am to develop the character of an elder.    It is a reminder also that as I build teams and put people in charge of others, I must be mindful of their character.  God chooses criteria for Elders (via Paul) so that His people will be properly shepherded.   Without good shepherds , the sheep will wander.   Jesus is the good shepherd, so our job is  to back him up. 

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray that you would continue to shape, instruct, and convict me to have the character of a biblical elder.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Be ready to rebuke, exhort and instruct

S - 2TI 4:1-2 NASB

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

O  - This word is to Timothy as a reminder to the local church he is shepherding, that he is to be ready, and stay steady, in the word of God, and the disciplines he has been discipled on as a Christ follower.  Paul knows this likely from experience what  happens in the church after it is formed. There are challenges both in that culture and in the cultures to come.

A - The application for me today, is to be a disciple of God's word.   I need to revitalize my own participation in daily study of God's word... so that I can continue to grow and prepare for the life and ministry God is preparing for me.  To be ready for all seasons to be able to reprove, rebuke, exhort, and with great patience instruct those God places in my life.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.   I pray Lord that you would continue to encourage and inspire me to be in your word.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Guarding my family against false teaching

S 1 Timothy 4:1-5 NASB

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

1TI 4:7-10 NASB

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

O - Paul's instruction here to Timothy comes from both wisdom of experience and discernment of God's will for the Church.    When I say will, it is to expose the fact that what Paul is stating is both happening and will happen more in the future.   Those who come to faith will fall away,   they will listen to things of the world,  stories bound in the cultural norms of the society.   The local church is to understand that and to self regulate.  Each individual is to read and head the warning.

A - For me this is a warning for me and my family,  especially my daughters who I am raising up to walk in God's ways.  This warning says despite how I manage the environment in which my girls grow up in,  there will be deceitful teachings, spirits, and cultures that they ultimately will be exposed to.   I must teach them to focus on choosing everything that comes from God, through his word and through prayer.   They can hear see and experience many things but must learn to filter and receive only that which comes from God.   They may be entertained by fables of the world, but they must not  be conformed by it.    I and they need to strive and labor to maintain the foundation that was layed by Christ in our lives.

P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for Jesus.  I thank you that your finished work is in my family.  I pray Lord for the wisdom, courage, and strength to lead myself and my family.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Take advice from wise elders, be wary of youthful misdirection

S 2CH 10:8-11 NASB

But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him. So he said to them, "What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?" The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.' Thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins! Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"

O - This was one of the sons of Solomon who was trying to take leadership of the nation of Israel after Solomon.  He was the less wise and humble.   He sought wise counsel, from the elders who had advised his father, but when what they advised had not matched he desire and hope, he sought advice from the younger generation of men he grew up with.  He did not head wise advice but sought advice from fools.

A -  The application for me is to understand as a leader I will face similar temptations to want to seek the advice of the young energetic youth .   Their passion and relevance is always intoxicating because they have the energy and perspective of the deckplate,  however, wisdom does not always guide their actions and words.  As leaders we must seek the wise counsel of wise men,  while also understanding the current reality of those we lead. 

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray that you would help me to be the leader that you are calling me to be.  I pray all this in Jesus name,  Amen.

Enjoy work, enjoy life, be content

S  -Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

O -  This wisdom is from Solomon who had all things available to him and spent a lifetime studying wisdom.  He also spent a life advising people who came to him for wisdom.  Somehow I imagine he came to this conclusion after touring a great many parts of the country and sitting with some pretty wise people,  as well as having some pretty dissatisfied people come to him for advice.  In the dissatisfied people he likely could see a discontent with life that might come from their attitude rather than their circumstances.  I can imagine then coming to him with complaints about their past injustices and focused on fixing past wrongs, than asking him how to move forward in wisdom to a place where they could be content.

A -  The application for me is that I am that sometimes discontent individual who can't let go of a past hurt or wrong, and carries it forward as a burden for far to long.  This can be at work, at home, with friends, and even family.   I am convicted and encourage to  MOVE ON!   Today I must  pledge to eat, drink and enjoy the work the Lord has placed before me.   God has been so faithful and gracious to put in front of me work that I love,  a family that blesses me, and provision to enjoy them all.  I must be thankful and express this thanks by not focusing on the past but looking forward to the future that God has layed before me.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this life you have given me.   I am truly blessed everyday by your provision, and circumstances I find myself in.  Lord I pray your spirit would guard my heart and mind from a spirit of grumbling discontent.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Healthy fear of the Lord - gambling for God

S- Matthew 25:28-29 NLT

“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.  To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

O - The message Jesus is telling is to the pharisees and servants of God's temple.  He was telling them, hey God entrusted you with many things, and you have not stewarded them well, in fact you have made it about building yourself up, and not building God up.  In this parable He is calling them stingy with what God has given them for the use and building of the kingdom of God and for serving God's people.  Instead they guard what God has given them from the people, for they justify their fear of God's rath if they misuse.  So rather than trust in God's provision and risk failure for the Kingdom sake, they simply hold on to the blessings of God and keep it from its potential kingdom impact.  So for them it will be taken away and given to a new leadership under Christ, directly to the people.  No longer will access to God require any other human  system to achieve - but through Christ directly we have a good and true representitive for us to God, and Jesus uses perfectly all the resources God has given Him.

A - The conviction for me is to live the same principle.  Be willing to take a risk for the Kingdom sake.   Fear of failure or fear of God's dissappointment or wrath is not a Truth that Jesus would have me live in.  Instead he would have me be a "gambler for God".   I must move forward with no fear, other than a healthy fear of God.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray for wisdom, and courage to gamble for You and the Kingdom of God.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Correcting my plans, back to God's plans

S- Isaiah 30:1 NLT

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the lord . “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.

Isaiah 30:15 NLT

This is what the Sovereign lord , the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:18-21 NLT

So the lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

O - Isaiah was prophesying to the Israelites who were seeking refuge in Egypt, as the exile was coming their way and the Babylonian empire was being utilized as a means of correction and punishment for Israel.  It is interesting that the Israelites once again seek refuge not in the Lord but back to Egypt where they were once saved and then slaved.   These prophetic words are a reminder to what God would say to them and to us who are torn by current circumstances and impending valley seasons that there is a righteous way to respond and our gracious Lord is there either way, the path though is up to us to choose.

A - The application for me is to recognize my own season of unexpected circumstances.   My plans were for James to come to Pearl Harbor as shipyard commander , for me to make 06 and become the Operations officer under him.   I now recognize that my plans were contrary to Gods, and that I put efforts and alliances in places that were not all directed by the Holy Spirit.   I must now return to God , seek his face, and find rest in Him.   I am so thankful to have such a God of grace be the Lord of my life, He is waiting on me to come back to Him and seek His voice and direction.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's word, that you might speak into me the truth of my ways.  I confess Lord, I have had many plans that were not guided by you, but thought of by me.  I had placed my hope and trust in them, and not in you.  I confess that my attitude and outward actions have not been humble and full of your love, and that my pride is creeping back out front.  Thank you for this gentle correction.  I pray Lord for your Holy Spirits guidance on where I am to walk today.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.