What is the best thing that you can do for you pastor? Compliment him
on his “outstanding, almost Charles Spurgeon-like sermon”? Give money
to the church? Give your time and skills to the church? Not heckle him?
Admire him for his manly beard? While those are all wonderful things,
they are not the best thing that you can do for you pastor.
The absolute, most important, best thing you can do for your pastor is pray for him.
I was freshly reminded of that fact this morning when I read 2 Corinthians 1:1
You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
This is Paul talking. The apostle. The dude who wrote a significant
portion of the New Testament. The guy who got blindsided by Jesus on
Damascus Road. The guy who had the whole “taken up to the third heaven
and seeing things too glorious for words” experience. This isn’t a
little ol’ Average Pastor With Minimal Gifting. We are talking about THE
Apostle Paul who studied under THE Gamaliel. If anyone could feel sure
of his ministry success it was Paul. I would expect Paul to say, “I am
confident of my success in the Lord, but your prayers would also be
helpful.”
But that’s not what Paul says. He says, “You also MUST help us by
prayer.” There’s a hint of desperation in his voice. He is pleading for
the prayers of the Corinthians. Why? Why does Paul feel such a deep need
for the prayers of others?
Because he knows that the depth of his fruitfulness hinges on the
prayers of others. He knows that he will not be successful unless he is
propelled forward by the prayers of the saints. Continue at Stephen Altrogge
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