Day 1: The Work vs. The Crown
Scripture: "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." (1 Timothy 3:1)
Devotional:
We are wired to desire significance, and the Apostle Paul says that aspiring to spiritual leadership is a fundamentally good thing. The danger, however, is what we are actually aspiring to. Are we drawn to the heavy, unseen labor of caring for souls, or are we drawn to the applause, the title, and the crown? True nobility in God’s kingdom is never about elevating your status; it is about lowering yourself to lift others up. When we fall in love with the image of leadership rather than the work of leadership, we become tyrants rather than shepherds.
Quote:
"If anyone desires the office of a bishop, I do not blame him; for it is a work of protection... But if anyone desires the dignity and not the work, that he may be invested with glory and receive applause... he is no longer desiring the office of a bishop, but the authority of a tyrant." — St. John Chrysostom
Action Step: Identify one area in your life (at work, home, or church) where you hold influence. Privately pray for the people under your care today, asking nothing for yourself.
Reflection Question: When I think about my desire for influence, am I chasing the "work" of serving others, or the "dignity" of being respected?
Day 2: The Dashboard of the Heart
Scripture: "He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?" (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
Devotional:
It is incredibly easy to build a marble facade over a rotting foundation. We often pour our best energy into the things people can see—our careers, our ministries, our public personas—while ignoring the quiet, uncelebrated spaces of our private lives. But God requires His leaders to check the dashboard of their own hearts and homes before looking at the scoreboard of public success. True dignity isn't proven by how well you command a crowd, but by how gently and faithfully you love those closest to you behind closed doors.
Quote:
"When your minds are in a heavenly frame, your people are likely to partake of the fruits of it. For your people's sakes, therefore, look to your hearts." — Richard Baxter
Action Step: Do one mundane, unnoticed act of service in your home today (e.g., folding laundry, taking out the trash, doing the dishes) without asking for or expecting any thanks.
Reflection Question: Does the "me" that my family or roommates sees match the "me" I project to the public?
Day 3: The Snare of Image Management
Scripture: "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." (1 Timothy 3:6-7)
Devotional:
Conceit is a fragile thing. When we are "puffed up," we look larger than we are, but we are hollow inside. This makes us terrified of being found out. We fall into the "snare of the devil" the moment we start managing our image to protect our reputation, rather than managing our conscience before God. If you have to fake your perfection, you will always be exhausted, and you will eventually trade the dignity of leadership for the dominance of control.
Quote:
"Perhaps all the fear of man, the pride of knowing, the seduction of acclaim... are all about the same thing. Each of these struggles is about the temptation to make your ministry about you." — Paul David Tripp
Action Step: Confess a specific weakness, failure, or mistake to a trusted friend, spouse, or coworker today. Break the habit of hiding.
Reflection Question: Where am I most tempted to manage my image rather than confess my mess?
Day 4: Wrapped in the Noble One
Scripture: "They hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." (1 Timothy 3:9)
Devotional:
How do we get the clear conscience Paul demands? Not by trying harder to be perfect, but by trusting the One who was perfect for us. Jesus didn't chase the crowd; He endured the Cross. He didn't hide His dependence on the Father; He publicized it. He took on the ultimate shame so that He could give us His "noble standing." When you realize that your standing before God is already secured by Christ's blood, the pressure to prove yourself evaporates. You don't have to puff yourself up, because you are already safely hidden in Him.
Quote:
"He is our clothing that for love wraps us, clasps us, and all encloses us for tender love, that He may never leave us... we are clad in the Goodness of God." — Julian of Norwich
Action Step: Spend 5 minutes in total silence today. Don't ask God for anything; just sit and thank Him that your standing with Him is fully secured by Jesus, not your performance.
Reflection Question: If I truly believed that God’s approval of me was fixed and unchangeable, how would my fear of failure change today?
Day 5: Leading with Your Spectacles On
Scripture: "For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 3:13)
Devotional:
When George Washington put on his spectacles in front of his angry men, he wasn't displaying dominance; he was displaying his scars. He let them see his weakness. In the Kingdom of God, a "good standing" isn't a platform where you look down on people; it is a solid footing built on the grace of God. Because you are deeply loved and forgiven, you are free to lead with a limp. You can ask for prayer, admit when you are overwhelmed, and point others to the Noble Shepherd who sustains you. True leaders don't pretend to be strong; they show others where to find strength.
Quote:
"Authority is not something we can hunt for... God's authority can only be established on our brokenness... If you want to learn how to be a leader, you must first learn how to be a broken man." — Watchman Nee
Action Step: Ask someone to pray for you today regarding a specific burden or area where you feel inadequate. Let them see your dependence on God.
Reflection Question: How can I lead with my "spectacles on" today, showing others that my confidence is in Christ and not in my own abilities?
