The Men of Iron Minute

by Travis Albanesius | Iron Rep – Ephrata, PA

Now Taking Applications

I recently had some quiet time with Jesus and decided not to read or to write, but simply to listen. I imagined myself in one of my favorite places of solitude and invited Jesus to speak to me. You know what He told me? He said “Travis, there are more people coming to know Jesus than ever before. Trust me.” I don’t often hear things like this. I could act like it was just a coincidence, or something I made up. Perhaps it was the strong cup of coffee I had? But something about the experience was real… I decided to believe. As I pondered the words I heard, I realized that if that’s true, if more people are coming to know Christ and put their trust in Jesus, as their Savior than ever before, then there’s a huge need for Christian leadership. A need for men who are mature in their faith to step up and “make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20). Sometimes we’re intimidated by this call to leadership. How could God use me? I am not qualified. 

Recently, I’ve been challenged by 1 Timothy 3. Paul is writing to his young and eager follower, Timothy, who’s leading a church in Ephesus. Timothy was likely experiencing something similar, lots of people coming to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They too needed leaders to step up and lead. But what are the qualifications? Here are Paul’s wise words to Timothy.  

“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) .” – 1 Timothy 3: 1-5  

What stands out to you? I’ll tell you what stands out to me. God’s more concerned with character than accolades. The call to leadership is not to men who have conquered the world in some crazy way, but instead it’s to men who have been faithful in the little things. Men who walk the walk. Did you catch verse 5? “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”  

The church needs leaders. The church needs you.

Let’s follow Christ in the little things, the most important things.

Let’s manage our families well. 

Prayer: Dear God, I want to lead. I want to lead others as they come to know you and trust in you as their Savior. I want to lead in my workplace. I want to lead within my community and in my church. But God, I recognize that first I am called to lead my family. Help me serve them today. I can’t do it alone. Holy Spirit, I ask you to help me. I pray this is Jesus’ name. Amen.  

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