Of God

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
OF GOD
1 Tim 3:8-10
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
NIV

It appears there are different positions of leadership within the church as this word deacon is also used as to denote those who serve tables and those who pastor. Ay servant of the church needs to pay attention to these qualifications I would think. I think it would be wise for any man to consider living accordingly. To be worthy of respect, to be honorable may not be a goal I should strive for as I think that would be prideful, but at the same time if I live my life in an honorable way because I desire to please God and that brings about the respect of others as a result of my desire to please God, then being respected is for the right reasons. Yet still I think it might be difficult to even think if I am respected or not. I mean I should not think if I am or nor for that thinking about might well be self serving rather than God serving. As far as being sincere, my joking around has nothing to do with it. I do like to bring laughter and light heartedness into conversations. Laughter is like a medicine, it does good to the soul. But this sincere simply means not to be double-tongued or tell a different story. I would think that means say what I mean and mean what I say, which I think I am fairly good about. I am not sure if I can say I have never said one thing and done another or vice versa. I hope that I do not do that, but I honestly cannot remember everything I have ever said or done. So I can only move forward from here and try my very best to be sincere at all times. I surely know without question that I am as sincere as a heart attack when I preach the word. I do not mix words, or double talk. I declare it straight up and straight forward without any different story. The truth is the truth. Again this wine issue is what it is. Some denominational rules frown on fermented beverages being consumed at all, and that is their right I suppose. But the word of God does not frown on the consumption, just the over indulgence of wine, even for those in leadership roles. I am not sure why the frowning unless it was at one time consider an act of separation from the general society, but believers do so much of what the general society does it seems to me they simply picked one issue which they could abstain from. I know I am not in the business of pursuing any dishonest gain, so I am not even going to deal with it as an issue in my life. I may not even being pursuing gain. Maybe that is a fault. One fault I am sure I do not have is not holding to the deep truth of God. Maybe I stand too firm on the truth. I have been accused of being closed minded about the word of God. I have been accused of not giving any credence to degreed men, supposed scholars, or theologians. I am not given to be blow back and forth by every new idea of what the scripture is saying, especially like from men such as Rob Bell. I hold to the deep truth of God the Holy Spirit has revealed to me. I have learned from men I trust to be of the same holding, but I am extremely against those who would use the word for personal gain. I say test or approve me, but I rely more on the approval of God. I stand on his approval as one who has been called to be used by him for him and for his purposes. If men agree with God so be it, but I really do not need the approval of me, but only of God.