Friday 12, July 2013
TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1-7
KEY VERSE: “I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you” (2 Corinthians 7:3).
If there is any yearning in the heart of ministers of the gospel, it is to fulfill God’s expectation, to please Him, to be a glory to Him. But equally important is their usually unspoken desire to be loved and appreciated by children of God under their care. Often times, this point is lost on believers. They expect the utmost care from their pastors at all times, but in the process, become blind to the needs of the servants of God, who then go about life seemingly unloved and lonely, even though they are in the midst of a large congregation.
The Apostle Paul, in our text, pleaded with the believers in Corinth to show more concern, understanding and care for him and his fellow ministers. He reminded them of the centrality of cleansing from sin, holiness of life and fear of God. They too, as ministers of God, should be accepted and treated with due consideration. He assured the believers that they were very dear to him. He never sought to condemn them, even when he rebuked them. In fact, he was proud of them, and was comforted every time he thought about them or heard about their affairs. He told them he was particularly encouraged and comforted when he heard from Titus about “your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.”
Ministers of God, pastors of our churches, leaders in our fellowships all deserve our affection. We should neither exploit nor degrade them. Instead, we should care for them, we should love them, and constantly show that we appreciate all their labours over us. We should respect and honour them, and follow the godly precepts they not only teach, but show to us. We should pray for them always. All of this will serve as tonic for them to serve God more and attend to our spiritual needs better.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Remember them which have the rule over you...”
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