"But" Is An Important Word

# 89 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 3:2,3 “A bishop (pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, Next on the list of qualifications for the prospective pastor is he must be gentle. It's not what you might think it is. Say the word “gentle” and one immediately thinks of something soft and tender. We sing a hymn in the church about our “Gentle Shepherd” Jesus, Who, of course, serves as a model for all pastors, but is a shepherd really all that gentle? If you think that's the case, you've never been involved in the day to day activities of a farm. Yes there is a place for gentleness, and it's a wonderful picture of our God. Who has said “A bruised reed I will not break,” (Mt 12:20) but there is also a place for firmness in dealing with sheep. The Greek word here, literally means “appropriate.” The shepherd must be “appropriate?” By implication in the Greek, it means gentle, moderation, patient. And the insertion of the word “but” here is significant. Think about it, this passage would read fine without it, “but” with the word “but” inserted, it ties in the character trait of gentleness, moderation, and patience to the preceding character traits of “not given to wine, not violent, and not greedy for money.” The insertion of the word “but” tells us that moderation, patience, and gentleness ought to mark the pastor's use of wine, temperament, and money. He must be one who has learned to properly “appropriate” all three! This insertion of the word “but” should once again remind us that every single word, jot, and tittle is to be carefully weighed as we interpret the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit does not waste words and neither should we. So, you want to be a pastor? Then get a handle on how you “appropriate” these things. (Namely wine, temperament, and money.)