Daily devotion – faithfulness
Each Tuesday, the Calvary Women gather together to study God’s Word and be taught the blessing of being a woman of God by Helen.
From these women and from the folk who gather each Wednesday evening for prayer, will come the future leaders of ministry in the Church. This is something I learned from Pastor Chuck Smith who placed a great emphasis on those who made sure they were part of such gatherings.
When Helen and I were first saved, we wanted to be at every meeting, every Bible study that was at the Church we attended. This has never changed over the 47 years of our knowing Christ. Faithfulness is the issue that the Lord is seeking in those who will serve Him.
Not talent or knowledge, God will look after that side of things. But being available is a matter of choice we each make every day. To lock God into our daily lives and set everything else aside.
I urge you, whether married or single, male or female to read the pastoral letters of Paul – 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus.
Read through the qualifications Paul gave to Timothy and Titus on how to select people to be faithful servants and leaders to the Church of Jesus Christ.
They are to be hard workers – 1 Timothy 3:10
Not busy bodies – 1 Timothy 3:11
They are to have a passion to serve, this person sets their heart on spiritual leadership- 2 Timothy 3:1
Blameless, someone who is above reproach, they are known for their integrity – 2 Timothy 3:2
If desiring to be a Pastor, they are to be a one-woman/wife man. They have no other women in their life. They are totally faithful and do not flirt.
Temperate, self-controlled, respectable – verse 2 – it means clearheaded.
Hospitable, and apt to teach – verse 2 – Christians, and especially leaders, are not simply to wait for opportunities for hospitality but are to pursue them – to do this without grumbling.
Apt to teach – Titus 1:9 – To be a person who is a student of the Word, a person who compares Scripture with Scripture and can communicate it and, when necessary, defend the faith.
Temperance – verse 3 – not given to drunkenness.
Not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome – verse 3 – literally not a giver of blows.
Their money – verse 3 – not a lover of money – Titus 1:7
Their family – the leaders home – verse 4-5, – The man who fails at the family is thereby disqualified from overseeing the family of God the Church. Bad example is the priest Eli – 1 Samuel 3:13.
Not a recent convert – verse 6 – They must have humility that has been seasoned by experience.
So much is at stake here that Paul details carefully who is to be placed in leadership of Christ’s Church.
Leaders are not determined by popularity – they must be the kind of people profiled here by Paul to Timothy.
Leadership is a calling!
Is God calling you? Do you have the qualifications?