Titus 2:7-8 - Biannual Flight Review

Titus 2:7-8 "In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us." (TEV)

Every two years I'm required to take an proficiency exam to retain the privileges of a private pilot. The exam is administered by a Certificated Flight Instructor or CFI, who in this exam was the same man who taught me how to fly.

It had been several months since I had gotten into a aircraft to fly it. And as with every other task a person has to do in life, a pilot must fly regularly enough to keep his skills at a high level of proficiency.

The exam consisted of two elements - a ground portion, where my instructor (the examiner) administered a verbal and written test on a variety of areas of aircraft operation.........and a flight portion, where he and I took to the skies, and he had me perform a number of maneuvers that would demonstrate to him that I was proficient in handling an aircraft in all phases of flight.

On the written test there were a few things that I missed which we discussed. It was during the flight portion of the exam that I really had a good chance to see how much rust had accumulated on my skills. And as hard as I tried on a couple of maneuvers, I still had trouble with them.

I could see that my instructor was a bit frustrated at times when I wasn't performing up to expectations. But I could also see he was sincere and serious in making sure that I had the qualifications necessary to fly. He takes his teaching seriously, and at no time did I consider his behavior as demonstrating anything but commitment and focus to the task at hand.

And I think that's what Brother Paul is getting at in the scripture above. I have an awesome task in front of me to teach others about the Lord that is going to require of me a high level of commitment to standards and proficiency in being consistent about what I stand up for and what I stand up against.

And like my instructor, I may get a bit outdone with one of my "students", but also like him, I must never step across the line and run someone down.......I must use "sound words that cannot be criticized".

The task I face is maintaining and enforcing standards the Lord has set for me in order lead others in His ways. And I *do* take that charge very seriously.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on April 24, 2004 in post #535. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 14, 2006

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