Scripture to Read: 1 Timothy 3:4-5
Today we continue to unpack God’s instructions for pastors as they lead within their family. As we saw yesterday, a pastor must love his wife in the same way that Christ loves His church. A pastor must also manage his children well. A pastor’s children are NOT going to be perfect for they are all born with the same sin-nature that every other person is born with when they come into this world. A pastor must lead other men by example by investing in his children and teaching his children God’s Truth. Again, this Truth from God’s Word applies to all Christian men, but God wants pastors to know that they will be held to a higher accountability by people because of the position they hold. God let’s all Christian men know, in Ephesians 6:4, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” In the Amplified Bible to not provoke means, “do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them.” So, pastors must set the example for other Christian men to see what it looks like to bring their children up in the loving discipline and instruction of God’s Word in their lives. God lets us know that if a pastor cannot lead His family then he is not going to be able to lead others within the body of Christ. We must all strive to live and lead well.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about how pastors are to lead their children?
2. How are you leading within your family and friend’s lives so they see Christ in you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!