Matt Bradner wrapped up New Year’s Conference with this last session. Some of our favorite combinations are the joining of a few good things to make one great thing. There is one particular combination that made Jesus marvel: a low view of self and a high view from others. This story can be found in Luke 7:1-10. Matt explained that this personal humility and public honor was a marvelous combo, one that Jesus marveled at.
Paul explained the qualifications for the overseers of the church in the same way that Luke described the centurion in the previous passage. He says in 1 Timothy 3:6-7:
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.
Bradner charged is his listeners to consider this combination as something to be pursued in their own lives: a low view of self and a high view from others. It is this combination that reflects the gospel and allows for us to be the force for good Bradner shared about previously.