He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
If you look at job applications, you can quickly tell what kind of standards the employer has. If they will take a warm body with a heartbeat, it is likely to be a sloppy operation. If, however, they have exacting standards, you may feel unqualified but eager to see these people in action. The church of Jesus Christ falls into the latter category. The church will not accept just anyone into leadership and this entire chapter lays out the criteria for leadership in God’s church. No one fulfills each attribute perfectly, but God equips the called. New believers need time to learn to walk again and wear out a Bible, ingesting its wisdom. It is a favor to them.
Likewise, if people hate us, let it be for the right reason. That reason is because the gospel is offensive, not our behavior. People will hate us because we bear the name of Jesus Christ who exposes sin and convicts the unbeliever through the Holy Spirit. Mean people are not helpful in leadership. We want Jesus to be well represented by those who bear the name of Christian. Today, with gentleness, respect, and humility, may we lead with courage and strength that comes from God so people will know that there is a God who loves them as we do.
Dear Lord, thank you for equipping those you have called to lead. May we all lead our sphere of influence with love for our neighbor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church