Paul was one of the most influential Christians of all time. His ministry was one of the most ‘successful’ of all times. However, it did not lead to material prosperity. Quite the opposite. He was materially poor. He did not have enough food. He did not have nice clothes. He was homeless. His poverty did not come about as a result of laziness, ‘We work hard with our own hands’ But, like many poor people today, he was subject to abuse. He did not respond in kind. ‘When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world’ Paul writes with great love – not to shame them but to warn them. He sees them as a father sees his own children ‘I’m writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God’s Message to you that I became your father. I’m not, you know, asking you to do anything I’m not already doing myself’. Paul had a father’s heart. A father’s heart is gentle, kind, nurturing, training, persevering and never gives up on people. This should be the attitude of a pastor. All human fathers are less than perfect. But we can all be loved and nurtured by our perfect heavenly father and then seek to be a father to others based on his heavenly model.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:29:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015