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Titus 1:5–9
In Titus 1:5–9 the Apostle Paul informs us that he has left Titus in Crete to appoint the elders of the churches in all the cities of the region. He goes on to describe the type of people who are qualified for such a position in the church as he explains in Titus 1:6–9 (NKJV), “6if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, nor greedy for money, 8but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
This is a command of the qualifications for appointing the elders of the church.
As we learn of the qualifications for the elders of the church, we too should be held accountable for conduct becoming of such people. For all Christians, we should be striving to win the race as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
To win the race and to hold ourselves accountable to the ways Jesus has taught in His earthly ministry can only be accomplished by humbling ourselves to Him and submitting our will to His will for our lives. The Bible teaches us in James 3:17–18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Dear LORD,
Please help us all, as Christians, to run the race as so we may win it; that we may put our faith in Jesus to lead us every step of the way unto righteousness and the wisdom of heaven; that it may be abundant in all our lives – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.