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
joannelowe8@cox.net
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.