Able To Deal With Mis-guided Ideas

617 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must be s”sober-minded.” The first thing we think of in the matter of sobriety is usually connected to drunkenness, but that's not what is meant here. The matter of “not given to much wine” is addressed later on in these qualifications. To be sober is to be self-controlled. And it's easy to see how the word gets connected to drunkenness. After all, the first thing that someone loses when they have too much to drink is their self-control. The Zodhiates Greek Study Bible defines this concept as follows: One who has a sound mind. A person who limits his own freedom and ability with proper thinking, demonstrating self-control with the proper restraints on all the passions and desires. The opposite of being sober minded is to be one whose insolence and contempt of others breaks forth in acts of wantonness (undisciplined behavior) and outrage. You can see how important this trait is when it comes to shepherding a flock of new converts! We sheep do some pretty dumb things and it serves no purpose to have a shepherd who breaks out into an outrage at every misstep. Think of our great Shepherd Jesus as it relates to self-control. How often He had to deal with the misguided ideas and behavior of His sheep, and kept His cool. Even when He overturned the tables in the temple and drove the vendors out, it was a calculated reaction to a grievous sin. So you want to be a pastor? Get a handle on your emotions. Learn to NOT overreact to situations that come your way. Father, help us all to learn to be disciplined children.