Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Table of Duties, To Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 6:10-25; Matthew 9:18-38 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.(Small Catechism: Table of Duties, To Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. "Beyond reproach" is an essential attribute for bishops, pastors, and preachers. It is also the one you hear district presidents, circuit visitors, and congregation members throwing around more than any other. But Luther gives us a much bigger picture in his Small Catechism. He allows the pastor to understand his role better without having to be beaten with the reproach club quite as often. Here in Timothy we have the classic list. Pastors are also called to the teaching of true doctrine and are expected to hold a pure confession of the faith. The Table