Before the world, there Paul was blameless. They could accuse him, they could slander him, but it could not really stick. Why? Because the data was not there. He lived with honesty, integrity, and godliness. He was blameless before the world. Well, these are areas that spiritual leaders of all kinds—especially pastors, but also all spiritual leaders, including parents in the home—need to apply these things to themselves: holiness before God, righteousness with people, blamelessness before the world. Isn’t this the great need—what the church needs to show the world? Because our world believes that it is no longer even possible:
Why are you even trying? We’re animals. We need to wallow in the muck—morally—like everybody else.And the people of God, led by their spiritual fathers, are to say what Paul said to Titus:
Richard D. PhillipsThe grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness.We are able torenounce ungodliness and worldly passions, to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age(Titus 2:12). How are our children ever to believe that if they do not see it—imperfectly but sincerely and really—lived out in the father’s life? And so Paul set a godly example. Furthermore, he ministered among them faithfully:We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory(1 Thessalonians 2:12). And so fathers are not only to be examples—they are to be instructors and governors and motivators—not merely models, but those who actually lead their children in practical obedience.1
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.