This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 3: “Ground Your family in grace!” (WATCH HERE)
“Everything rises and falls on leadership.” – John Maxwell
This axiom is true in every aspect of life, whether it be a company, our country or our households. In the reality of order, where two or more people are involved, there is a need for order for those individuals to work well together. On a football team, you have one quarterback. On a basketball team, you have one point guard. On every athletic team you have one head coach. The reason? Everything rises and falls on leadership. If everyone were trying to carry out that roll, chaos would ensue.
The same is true for the family. God organized the family to have two people he dearly loves, a husband and wife, working together in the roles they have been given to bring the greatest blessing to the family as a whole. Paul gives specific instructions to Timothy to guide both the men and women into more God-glorifying activities that correspond to the roles he gave of head and helper.in the Garden.
1 Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
Anytime Paul has to address something it means that some activity was beginning a disruption from the reality of grace. Men seem to be dealing with issues by taking on someone in a spirit of anger and dispute rather than with prayer. Secular ways of addressing problems were exhibiting themselves in the context of the church as well. Men were more worried about showing their strength or power of wisdom than in building and maintaining the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. So as leaders in the church and their families, Paul in essence says, “Try a new way.” Instead of lashing out in anger and frustration, take time to pray individually or also with the one with whom you have a dispute.
Most of chapter three of 1 Timothy addresses qualifications of the overseer and deacons in the church. As these qualifications are written for us, they have a primary application in the church of God, but secondarily they also have a very practical guidance for how men are to show up and lead not only in the church, but why would these qualifications also be a great set of standards of what a man of grace looks like, lives like and leads like. Here’s a small sample:
1 Timothy 3:8 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.
Every man of grace must ground themselves in the truths of God and his holy Word. His life is to reflect the grace and forgiveness he has received so that all might be done with a clear conscience. He must be respectable, not a drunkard, and whose heart is captivated by the Lord, not wealth. When grace prevails in the heart of a man, a man becomes a man of grace and is able to live and lead from a perspective of grace.
Be a man of grace!
Apply: If you are a guy, what things are getting in the way of being a man of grace? What changes today when you ask the Lord to help you address every issue first with prayer?
Prayer: Lord equip all of your men to be men of grace. AMEN