As some of you may know, I was a military fighter pilot for a long time, and as a result, I was required to maintain a high level security clearance. The security clearance level required me to have a background investigation every few years, during which, an investigator would come around and talk to my neighbors, and friends, to determine if I had any vulnerabilities like financial problems, infidelity, drinking problems, etc. These types of problems could allow someone to take advantage of me through blackmail or other coercion and manipulate me into sharing secrets or other acts against the country.

In 1 Timothy 3, Paul is explaining to Timothy the criteria he should have for selecting elders and leaders of the church. Paul writes in verses 6,7, “An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.”

Just like the risks of manipulation by the enemies of our country that a soldier may face, we as Christians must be wary of the manipulation the devil will try to use against us. The devil will try all kinds of tricks, manipulating our fear, pride, jealousy, insecurity, looking for weakness to get us to compromise ourselves. Elders and church leaders must keep an even higher vigilance, because if they are manipulated by the devil, they may influence others in the church to go astray.

Dear Lord, we know we can resist any temptation when we rely on your power. Protect us from the deception of the devil, and help us protect each other from getting manipulated off your way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.