When God calls us to do a new thing in a new place, He equips us daily until it is completed. As pastors come to Him at the beginning of each new day, in Jesus Name, God encourages us with His wisdom and strength as we face trials, disputes between people, along with financial, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges that try to trip us up as we serve this world who needs Jesus.
The vocation of pastor to a group of people coming from all walks of life is not for the faint of heart who are impressed by the position but for those men and women who are sold out to God, fully committed to Him. Above all, is the love of God completing His work in us who compels us to obey the will of God. “We love Him because He first loved us,” writes John. (1 John 4:19) It is this deep love that leads us to trust and obey the call of God. It is this love that leads us to boldly proclaim Truth—
Jesus, Son of God, our Messiah, was sent to earth by God to seek and to save the world by dying for our sins. He rose again on the third day to prove who God is and how much He loves us. Jesus is our hope of eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
Being a pastor is not like any other vocation on earth. To be called of God for a very specific task of pastoring a church or churches in which God has sent us to serve is like sending a loyal soldier to the front lines of battle with the enemy to protect his family. The enemy of God works hard to distract the people who believe in Jesus and have committed themselves to love God alone. Our enemy still uses his age-old tricks over and over again to destroy what Jesus died to save—our very souls. Jesus was, is and always will be the Victor over this enemy. The enemy hates Jesus for this victory over death—his best tool of destruction. He fights all the harder these days to take down what God has redeemed. He comes to stir the Body of Christ with distractions, illusions of good, with sly ways of dividing us. He deceives us on every level which leads to distrust in each other as well as with God. Pastors must be on their toes, expecting evil to pounce, armed with God’s Truth to muzzle the Liar.
Paul is that pastor. He has a pastor’s heart filled with God’s love as he helps the Corinthian church deal with a person who evil is using to cause division in God’s church. Paul’s love for the Corinthians oozes from his heart as he writes to them…
2 Corinthians 2, The Message
1-2 That’s why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us. If by merely showing up I would put you in an embarrassingly painful position, how would you then be free to cheer and refresh me?
3-4 That was my reason for writing a letter instead of coming—so I wouldn’t have to spend a miserable time disappointing the very friends I had looked forward to cheering me up. I was convinced at the time I wrote it that what was best for me was also best for you. As it turned out, there was pain enough just in writing that letter, more tears than ink on the parchment. But I didn’t write it to cause pain; I wrote it so you would know how much I care—oh, more than care—love you!
5-8 Now, regarding the one who started all this—the person in question who caused all this pain—I want you to know that I am not the one injured in this as much as, with a few exceptions, all of you. So I don’t want to come down too hard. What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough. Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love.
9-11 The focus of my letter wasn’t on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!
An Open Door
12-14 When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. But when I didn’t find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn’t relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you. And I got it, thank God!
14-16 In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.
16-17 This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
The steps Paul counseled the leaders to take:
- Counsel the one causing division.
- Show them Truth and the consequences of not following Truth.
- Forgive the one.
- Pour on God’s love.
Wow, seems easy and simple, right? But this is a tedious process that requires generous love and obedience to God’s wisdom with everyone involved seeking after God’s maturing character traits: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—the fruits of His Holy Spirit working within us. (Galatians 5:22-23)
God also opens doors of opportunity for us to tell His story of redemption for those He is preparing to hear the good news! May His love lead us! Like Paul, “We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.” It is His love for us and growing in us that keeps us focused on His will. What a responsibility—but oh, what a privilege!
Lord,
You are God and we are not. Your love us far more than we deserve, yet you love us still. You demonstrated this love, by saving us from our sins and removing them completely. Thank you for they way you love, counsel, challenge, comfort, encourage, lead, and guide us each day. May our first thought of the day be your love. May your love in us be a sweet fragrance to others seeking real love that never gives us on us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 