“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11 BLB
As a new Christian in 1995, I sat in the pews of Liberty Baptist church in Wichita Falls, Texas and gazed up at the pastor. As in most churches our pulpit was on a raised platform to aid in audience viewing, yet it also elevated the pastor above the audience, making his stature seem even larger. I remember listening to him preach Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights. I remember the powerful sermons that were carefully and hermeneutically extracted from the Word of God. Messages that spoke directly into my heart and being. And I also remember feeling the chasm between my pew and that pulpit. I mean he was a seminary educated, ordained pastor and I was just a regular ol’ guy that loved Jesus. I remember as an immature Christian sitting in those pews and pondering the difference in how the Word of God applied to us, two seemingly very different Godly creatures. For the pastor, the Word of God seemed somehow more instructive, somehow more relevant than it was for just a regular Christian guy like me. I mean after all, pastors are called to be more like Christ than a regular Christian, right? Folks, what an untruth that is.
As I yet again meander through the New Testament, studying, digesting, and falling in love all over again with one chapter a day, I come to both Timothys and Titus. Together these three little books are known as the Pastoral Epistles. They are known as such because they are letters written from Paul to Timothy with rich instruction in how to pastor the flock of believers in Ephesus in Godly wisdom. As such, these books can be seen as somewhat limited in their audience and scope because of their intended recipient, a young pastor. Yet I will challenge you to gently take a step out of whatever box you may be inhabiting today and look at God’s Word from outside that box. You see, your Christian call may be very different from a pastor, but a heart fully given to Jesus Christ sees no difference in the life-instructions laced within His Word.
As you sit in a pew this Sunday, gazing up at whoever may be delivering instruction from the pulpit on the Word of God, ask yourself this…is your pastor called to be more righteous than you? Meaning, is He called to do more right in his life than you? As a pastor is he responsible to be Godlier than you? That somehow there is a secret level of holy Godliness that diminishes in the distance of your pew from the pulpit? Are you off the hook in showing the same level of great faith in Almighty God as your pastor? Or is the pastor somehow afforded the ability to possess and give more Godly love than you? Folks, hopefully you’re picking up what I’m laying down. The call to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ does not entail different levels of obedience to Christian fundamental basics. All those that have faithfully professed Jesus Christ to be the Savior of their life are called to absolute obedience, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness through the power of the Holy Spirit. And friends, if you’re not at 100% on every one of these, you have some daily sanctification in your future.
Regardless of whether you’re in a pulpit or a pew this Sunday, see your sanctification differently…pursue not a position but a posture. A heart posture that places you at the feet of Christ, striving and yearning to be all that Christ has called you to be. And for that daily sanctification to occur, making you ever more like Christ, it takes a daily investment. Hear this carefully, you’ll never change a thing in your life until you first change your daily routine. A rich, daily investment in Christ results in a life lived for Christ, a life directed by Christ, and a life that displays Christ. And just what does that daily investment look like as one strives to abide in Christ daily as John 15 instructs? Four things.
First, a deep investment in the study and understanding of the Word of God each and every day. And be careful not to just hear it…but do it. You see, when it comes to the Word of God, many times we have not an education problem, but an execution problem, that is, actually doing what it says. Sure it’s great to wax on about loving your enemies but actually doing it is as different as New York and Alabama. Second, a dedication to living a life steeped in perpetual prayer, realizing that a hearty prayer life is not one long prayer each day, but a thousand small. A heart perpetually bowed to the Lord in prayer is one found kneeling before Him in humility, not standing in pride. Third, a life that seeks and maximizes daily Christian fellowship. That is, fellow believers coming together to encourage and pray for each other, share each other’s burdens, and sharpen each other in Godliness. Friends, a single sheep is prime picking for the wolves of this world. And fourth, serving the world around you through sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. There are countless souls on this planet that have not had the fortune of hearing the fact that God grants eternal life through His only Son Jesus Christ like you have. Someone loved you enough to share the gospel of Christ with you, be that person for someone else. And as you consider these four, note that the first three are internal, filling the believer to overflowing in the Holy Spirit, only then allowing them to tackle the fourth...taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world in which Christ has planted them.
Today, regardless of whether your church real estate is pew or pulpit, God has instructions and teachings specifically for your heart. Teachings that will find you, one day at a time, drawing closer to the life He desires for you…an abundant life that will find you walking in joy, peace, harmony, and obedience with the very One that created you.
Blessings for you daily journey ~ Dan
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.” John 14:23 NIV
