Morning Moments

1 Timothy 5:24-25 (KJV)
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Let's begin with the basic of ver 22 - "keep thyself pure". Paul had known and observed Timothy for some time and found him NOT to be a man given to lust. He is now in a position of leadership where he has to deal with women who by nature are drawn to godly men. Their intentions may be pure, but there is a DANGER, so Paul says to Timothy "keep” that means he lived a pure life "thyself" which means he had the power to do it, "pure" which means that he attitude and actions are consistent with godly character.

The verses before us make it clear, along with our own observation and evaluation, that impurity among some men is evident, but it is not so evident among others. My reference here is not limited to sexual impropriety but to the Christian Value System as opposed to that of the world. On several occasions we find Paul saying, "and such were some of you, BUT NOW..."

The point of the context is that any man desiring to pastor must be carefully scrutinized, so that he not only has the right answers, but that he also has the right reputation. Think about it this way: John in his first epistle speaks of three categories of Christians, the first are "newly born ones", the second are "young men" and the third are "fathers". The "new Christian" is pre-occupied with forgiveness, as well he should be. FORGIVEN! He sees himself as having been a wretch and is overwhelmed with the forgiveness of his sins. BUT, he is not mature enough yet to be a "young man" who is no longer pre-occupied with forgiveness (although he never gets over God's grace to forgive), but he is now pre-occupied with VICTORY. He has learned that we do not spend our lives in "temptation that is common to man", but he has learned that we are "more than conquerors" through Christ. It is not that he is without the sin nature, but that he has learned that the he has become free from the governing principle of sin (independence) and death (separation), and now lives in the power of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Finally John refers to "fathers" who are past the pre-occupation of forgiveness and past pre-occupation of victory, and are pre-occupied not so much with making babies and with rearing them. Babies cry, young me fight, and old men teach and train.

PLEASE do not misunderstand this. It does not mean that any one of us never needs forgiveness and victory, but it means that "elders/pastors" should be passed infancy and adolescence spiritually. I pray that this makes it clearer why anyone desiring to pastor should be an elder - one with spiritual maturity and moral purity.

Let me hear from you if this is helpful or needs further clarification.

BLESSINGS!