As Paul the apostle wrote to
Timothy concerning requirements for bishops, he included the idea
that a man desiring the office should not be “a novice, lest
being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the
devil.” In chapter three and
verse seven, Paul adds another qualification for those who desire the
office of a bishop. We read:
Moreover he must have a
good report of them which are without;
lest he fall into
reproach and the snare of the devil.
The
verse begins, “Moreover he must have a good report of
them which are without;” Paul
began, “Moreover”
which means “in addition to, but, and” “he must have”
or “it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right
and proper that he have” “a good report” which means
“beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing,
precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable testifying”
“of them which are without” which refers to those who are
outside of the church. In other words, the man desiring the office of
a bishop, overseer or pastor must have a good reputation from those
who are in the secular world and not part of the church.
The verse goes on to say, “lest
he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Paul
gave the reason for this requirement, “lest he fall”
or “like one who falls among robbers or into one's power” “into
reproach” which means
“suffering such as Christ suffered from his enemies”. In addition
to falling into “reproach”
among those that are outside of the church, Paul added, “and
the snare” which means “trap,
noose or whatever brings peril, loss and destruction” “of
the devil” who is “the
traducer, one prone to slander, accusing falsely and calumniator”
of all men. Not only will a bad reputation bring a reproof and
reprimand from people outside the church, but “the devil”
himself will have occasion to trap and bring destruction to a man of
such report.
As we think about Paul's
words concerning bishops, let us consider our own reputation with
those who are outside of the church. Do they speak well of us, or do
they have occasion against us for any reason? It is easy for us to
require “a good report” from those who are pastors and
leaders over us, but what about ourselves? Do we need the help of God
in this area? Are there people who have testimony against us who are
not part of the church that might be used by the devil to bring
destruction into our lives? If in our meditation we ask the Lord to
bring to our minds anyone who might have occasions against us, He
will be certain to allow us to redeem our reputations as much as
possible, and remove any onslaught the devil has in mind.
Next
time Paul begins instructions concerning “deacons”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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