Scripture:
1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Observation:
Paul gives Timothy a humbling list of qualifications for the office of elder. The final thing he says is that those who are outside of the family of God must think highly of him.
Application:
To serve as an elder in the local church is a humbling office. Paul calls it a noble task. It is not for the faint of heart, the weak, or the immature. It matters how an elder lives both in the public eye and in private. It also matters how an elder relates to believers and non-believers. His reputation and character is to be above reproach even to those who wouldn’t hold him to this standards.
A few things…
-Who I am alone or in a crowd should be the same.
-Who I am at church or in the world should be the same.
-What others think of me, furthermore, what others think I am capable of matters.
Prayer:
Today I make a recommitment to a life of integrity, even in the most private affairs of my life. I trust the forgiveness and grace of Jesus in the areas that don’t match. I ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to make me into the image of Christ in all aspects of my life.