The Epistles to Timothy, especially the first, have to do largely with the order and government of the House of God. In chapter 3 we have the special responsibilities of oversight and service, as seen in the work of those gifted and fitted for it. And what responsibilities they are! To have entrusted to the hands of man the care of the lambs and sheep of Christ! So in faithfulness the Great Shepherd has given these inspired directions through one who had in a special way "obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful" (1 Cor. 7:25). Well may any and all who are seeking to fulfil their ministry cry, "Who is sufficient for these things?"-and let grace be given to reply in lowly faith, "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5).

"If any man desire oversight"-not "the office of a bishop." The word for "desire" is to "aspire," to reach out after. This does not mean that it is a matter of ambition. The instincts of the new life, of love to the Lord and to saints, stir the heart of the believer. "Lovest thou Me?" was the word to a restored sheep, "Feed My lambs;" "shepherd My sheep;" "feed My sheep." Where the effectual, restoring grace of the Lord has been experienced, the heart will crave to serve others.

But it is not an "office." Dignities and honors from men are not the accompaniments of service to One who was "despised and rejected." The beloved apostle had scant recognition of any "office"-a thing to which he did not aspire. He became the servant of all – "your servants for Jesus' sake."

"If any one is reaching out after the care of saints, he desireth a good work." And here Paul is the model in devotedness and service – "in labors more abundant." And for this toil there were qualifications, moral and spiritual, which gave both the incentive to labor and removed any occasion for a reproach to be brought by the enemy. These qualifications included local fitness, and therefore the home condition is also specified. Similarly, in the service which has to do largely with the temporal affairs, godliness of life and piety in the home are indispensable.

No one can read these qualifications without, if they are in the Lord's presence in communion, being exercised, and, may we not add, humbled, at the feeble measure in which these have been manifested. Surely there will be no room for pride-there never really is-but abundant cause for prayer. May it be so.

But let us look for a little at the close of the chapter. Paul writes that Timothy, and others, might know how to behave in the House of God. At the close of the chapter Another, also in connection with the house of God, is set before us. "Great is the mystery of godliness:God was manifest in the flesh." Here is the Lord and Master of the house, who has displayed in the glory of humility and meekness all the moral perfections of God. "God manifest, God seen and heard," has been here in flesh. Taking the form of a servant, the blessed Lord sought not the dignities of place or power, but could ever say, in perfect truth, "I am among you as He that serveth." With all right to command the willing homage of the countless hosts of heaven, He came "not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Here is the perfect model; more, the blessed Giver of grace abundant, with whom the heart and mind are to be engaged:
"Jesus, Thou art enough,
The mind and heart to fill."

To be by the Holy Spirit engaged with the blessed Lord, to hold Him up, to seek to maintain His glory- this is the secret of power for all fulfilment of responsibilities of oversight and ministry.

The eye of faith is directed to His entrance upon His life here, to the presence and power of the Spirit, to the adoring gaze of angels from His birth on to His temptation and the agony of the garden, the empty tomb-and now as they surround the throne on high. He has been preached beyond the limits of Israel, to every kindred, and countless trophies of His saving grace are soon to share the glory into which He has entered.

Here, we repeat, is the source of power and grace for His servants to whom He has entrusted the care of those whom He has purchased with His own blood.

Here is the pattern and power of all truth and of all piety. Are the truths of revelation to be safeguarded from the countless forms of error introduced by the father of lies? Where will the display of truth be fully seen save in the blessed Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ? Is any subtle error suggested as to His absolute Godhead, His birth of the Virgin and complete and spotless humanity, His atoning sacrifice, His triumphant resurrection, His coming and eternal glories with His ransomed Church, and the overthrow of all His enemies, to be put beneath His feet, and finally confined to their eternal prison? The test of error, the antidote of evil, the power for good, will all be found in Him, in whom all fulness dwells. So too with regard to godliness and an upright walk before the world, as well as for corrective discipline where there has been sin-the power to detect and to gauge the evil and to administer punishment, "for edification and not for destruction"-all come from the blessed Lord.* *In the Tabernacle, the dwelling-place of God, the veil with its cherubim and the various colors, each setting forth some ray of the character of our Lord Jesus, was held up by four pillars, which rested upon silver sockets. This symbolizes that of which we have been speaking- redeemed men, "pillars in the house of God," holding up the glories of the blessed Lord.*

Does one's heart go out to the lambs and sheep of ths flock of God, and yearn to help, to shepherd them? Let him keep close in heart to the risen Son of God, in all the perfections of His character, and he will be equipped for and sustained in this "good work."

"And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away" (1 Pet. 5:4). S. Ridout