Preparing for the Office of Deacon (2) Educating Oneself and Supporting One’s Officebearers

One who prepares for the office of deacon, we noted last time, desires that office. That desire leads him to pray. Prayer manifests his submission to and contentment with God's will, for the man does not yet know whether God wills him to serve in office, nor when God might will him to serve. His desire also leads him actively to prepare for office. By active preparation I mean that the man consciously, before God and by God's grace, prepares himself for office so that he is ready in God's time,...