The call to ministry is a sacred and holy one, and as ministers of the Gospel, we are held to a higher standard of righteousness and holiness. The Bible is clear that God desires His ministers to be holy, set apart for His purposes and living a life that is pleasing to Him. We will explore the concept of holiness for ministers, with various passages in the Bible.
To begin with, the word “holy” means “set apart for a sacred purpose.” In the Old Testament, the priests and Levites were set apart for the service of the Lord in the tabernacle and later in the temple. They were to be holy, pure, and blameless in their conduct, as they represented the Lord before the people. Similarly, ministers today are called to be holy, as they represent Christ and minister in His name.
The apostle Paul emphasized the importance of holiness for ministers in his letter to Timothy. He wrote, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 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? 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 3:1-7, ESV).
Paul’s words highlight several qualities that a minister must possess, including being above reproach, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and well-thought-of by outsiders. These qualities are essential for a minister to be effective in his ministry and to maintain a good testimony before the people. A minister who lacks these qualities will struggle to lead and shepherd the flock of God.
In addition to possessing these qualities, a minister must also be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian elders, “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32, ESV). The Word of God is the foundation of the minister’s life and ministry. It is through the Word that we are sanctified, built up, and equipped for every good work.
Furthermore, a minister must guard his heart and mind from sin and temptation. The apostle Peter wrote, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:13-16, ESV).
Peter’s words remind us that as ministers, we are called to be holy in all our conduct, just as God is holy. This means that we must guard our hearts and minds from sin and temptation, and live a life that is pleasing to God. We must avoid the passions of our former ignorance and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
In conclusion, the call to ministry is a holy and sacred one. God desires His ministers to be holy, set apart for His purposes, and living a life that is pleasing to Him. As ministers, we must possess the qualities that Paul outlined in his letter to Timothy, be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word, and guard our hearts and minds from sin and temptation. We must strive to be holy in all our conduct, just as God is holy.
May we as ministers always remember the words of the psalmist, who wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalms 139:23-24)
Yours In His Service
C. C. RAYMOND
