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Many pastors have asked me why I feel
led to encourage pastors. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians
5:12,13
King James
Bible:
???And we beseech you, brethren, to
know them which labour among you, and are over you in the
Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in
love for their work??™s sake. And be at peace among
yourselves.???
Several
years ago when I lived in Oklahoma, my Pastor??™s wife was my
closest friend and we always sat together in church. One
Sunday when the invitation was given to accept Jesus as your
Personal Savior, she walked down the aisle to the front of
the church where my Pastor, her husband, was standing. He
was so overwhelmed! He took his wife??™s hand and wept.
She gave a
testimony and said, ???I have been teaching Sunday School for
many years and singing in the Choir, but I have never had a
personal relationship with Jesus. I have never experienced
the Joy that only Jesus can give in the midst of heartache???.
Instead of
that church rejoicing with them, they held an emergency
meeting and voted to ask the Pastor to leave. I have never
forgotten that and I know that one day every member of that
church who had a part in that decision will stand face to
face with God and give an account for that decision that so
devastated my Pastor and his wife.
My friend
told me when we were alone after the service as she was
brokenhearted and weeping, ???Pastors and their spouses need
encouragement???.
Joyce
Landorf says on one of her teaching tapes, ???I was waiting at
an airport with a lady and she pointed to herself and said,
???Pastors and their wives need encouragement???.
The Bible
says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. We
have a choice to make in our lives. We can choose to
encourage or we can choose to discourage. If we say
hurtful, discouraging words to one another, we might as well
put a gun to their head and shoot them. It has the same
effect.
The Bible
also says, ???Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me???.
We need to remember this verse the next time that we are
tempted to say something that will discourage someone.
Are you an
encourager? Do you try to find ways to say things to bring
peace and happiness into someone??™s life? The best way and
also the only way to encourage someone is to tell them that
Jesus Loves them and then prove it to them by your actions.
Joanne Lowe
February 26, 2005 |
