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Pop Quiz Time
by Elizabeth Marks This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV Wow, what a list of qualifications. Even if you don't desire to be a bishop, this is a good reminder for the children of God. All of these things should be present in God's people, not just a bishop. We all need reminders of the good path to follow. Today's verse is a good check list. Review it for yourself. How well does it apply to you? If you find you're not doing so well, thank God for revealing areas you and He can work on together. I love verses like this one and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV because they provide a test I can use to determine how well I'm allowing the Spirit in me to conform me to God's character. Try it for yourself. Simply read the verse above as though someone was describing you. How well does that fit? Are there areas you're struggling with? Lord, thank You for Your Word that so clearly describes godly behavior. Thank You for Your Spirit to lead us in Your ways. Forgive us when we fall short and help us to allow You to work in us. Develop Your character in us, so more of You is evident and less of us is displayed to the world around us. May we be diligent in our studies of Your Word and in the application of it in our lives. In Jesus' name Amen. Copyright Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions, has a heart for encouraging believers with God's Word. Please visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com for more devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more! Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |