Godly character comes from discipline

“Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” Titus 1:8 BSB

In an article posted by Denver7 News yesterday, the following was reported: British runner Kate Jayden broke a world record for most consecutive days to run a marathon distance by a female by running 26.2 miles every day for 106 days. The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed the record on Tuesday. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Jayden discovered that she fractured her knee at some point during her journey. Jayden said the injury will require her to undergo surgery. She told BBC News that she may never run again. "It was such an incredible sense of pride that so many people had followed the journey to break the record and engaged so much with the causes that led me to take on the challenge, so the record being verified officially was just an amazing day," she told Guinness Book of World Records. Her goal was to raise money for refugees fleeing Syria, among other charities. She raised nearly $52,000 for charity. She accomplished the feat while juggling a full-time job. "Knowing I'd need to continue for six hours after eight-nine hours of a work day was overwhelming at times, but discipline and commitment to the reasons I began, overtook when motivation waned," she told Guinness.

And you know, when it comes to having discipline, the Bible gives us a list of qualifications that an elder or leader in the church must have. You see, Paul knew that being motivated to serve in a leadership role went beyond merely having the desire to do so. It required that, among other things, a man “be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” Why the disciplined part you might ask? Because acquiring the set pattern of behavior to practice hospitality and the many other characteristics necessary to serve as an elder required that a man be trained, tested and proven to be true; with pure motives and a heart set on glorifying God. In other words, what qualifies a man for spiritual leadership is godly character… something that  is only acquired through discipline. 

So if the desire of your heart is to serve in a leadership role, make sure that you are developing the godly character needed for such a position my friend. This will not only ensure that you fulfill your duties well but that you bring honor and respect to the Lord in your pursuits. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for clearly listing the qualifications a man must meet to become a leader in the church. Knowing that having these characteristics would benefit us all, help us to discipline ourselves to have the godly character to serve in such an upright way that we bring glory to You. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!