WATCHWORD:
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Phil. 3:7-8
5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. 8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. Titus 1:5-9
Meditation:
A Scripture Check List
The expectations or characteristics of a Christian are scattered throughout the Bible. I don’t know if it’s helpful to be reminded what some of those characteristics are because it could cause us to feel uncomfortable in our own self-assured world. As Christians, of course, we like to think that we’re following the teachings of our Lord. I believe we would all agree with that. But, let’s just see. Let’s try fifteen descriptors of God’s design:
- Faithful to the Lord
- Blameless
- Faithful to family and friends
- Not overbearing
- Not quick-tempered
- Not given to drunkenness
- Hospitable
- Loves what is good
- Self-controlled
- Upright
- Trustworthy
- Encouraging
- Loving, gentle and kind
- Compassionate
- Courageous
Sounds just like you, right? Nailed it! Well, for all the world to see, let’s take a few and see how I measure up.
- Faithful to the Lord – I try to be, but often backslide a bit, but He always welcomes me.
- Faithful to family and friends – Absolutely!
- Overbearing? Of course, not!
- Quick-tempered – Ah, rarely, but with good cause.
- Loves what is good – You bet.
- Self-controlled – 98% and working on it.
- Courageous – Most of the time.
How about you? How would you honestly and privately rate yourself on those descriptors?
We believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and that does free us as believers. We don’t need to judge or rate ourselves on those descriptors, they are only reminders of the characteristics of one who is saved. That is not to say we don’t need to work on some of those, it’s just a reminder that… we might need to work on some of those.
Let’s be straightforward about one more thing, as Saints of our Lord, like it or not we are leaders in the Kingdom. We need to take seriously the fact that we are representatives of Jesus to the world we live in, and what others may see in us, could make a difference in their lives.
All our characteristics and graces and talents are given by God, but that does not mean that nothing is expected of us as believers. We are entrusted with caring for the souls of others even though that may seem a daunting task. Self-control and discipline are necessary in order to function in the service to Christ. This is not to make us feel bad about not measuring up. As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, discipline finds its true nature as we consider Christ as all the gain we need.
Discipline of a Saint is not about following the law, it’s about following Christ.
Bulletin Board:
An Irish Blessing — May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Alternate Irish Blessing — May the road rise up to meet you, and you avoid the potholes!
Closing Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word tells us that eternal life is knowing You and the Lord Jesus Christ Whom You have sent to be our Lord and Savior, and Father, I want to know more of You. Help me to know You more and to love You better, and I pray that I may learn to spend more time simply sitting at Your feet, listening to Your Word and communing with You in Your presence. I pray that You will capture my heart, teach me Your ways and draw me every closer to Yourself, so that I may learn more of You and the eternal truths of Your precious Word. Give me a child-like anticipation and joy of coming into Your presence each day, an ever deepening awareness of the future inheritance that you have prepared for me in heaven that will never fade or spoil. Give me a closer walk with You I pray, and may my daily fellowship with You become my dearest priority in life. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
