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Hear today's devotional here: https://bit.ly/34AhM5v
9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 NRSV)
Happy Wednesday, dear Friend! As we gather for time in God's word, let us also gather to pray together for situations and needs. For a domestic situation in the Panhandle of Texas; for the Davis Family after saying goodbye to their son; for those awaiting surgery, for those recovering from surgery, for those planning weddings, those who are unemployed and desperate for work to make money for their basic needs, for the election happening next Tuesday. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.
The hardest working man in church business would have to be the Apostle Paul. Filled with excitement and wonder, fueled by his time with the risen Christ, and seeing the successes of his ministry come through the power of God's Holy Spirit, Paul worked hard, and as he himself writes, "We worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God." Besides working hard, Paul and his team exhibited "pure, upright, and blameless" conduct towards the other believers and pre-believers; even saying that his conduct towards these new and soon-to-be believers could be compared to a father and his children; "urging and encouraging" them, and pleading they be living lives worthy of God and God's calling on them. And Paul was thankful these Thessalonians believers received God's word as being truly from God, and not an invention of human origin, made evident by the way it was made visible in these believers.
As we prepare to wind down the month-long pastors appreciation, I want to say the word I have heard from some dear friends still in active ministry is the word frazzled. One friend just lost his father to cancer. Another friend had to officiate the burial of a stillborn baby. Another one had chills and fever and thought he had Covid-19 but thankfully found out he did not, but still suffered those symptoms and the weaknesses that come with them. Another still has not yet opened their church for live worship because of the precautions they follow in their region of the state to mimic those of the schools districts; and all others who have to work longer hours to tape, edit, upload and stream their worship services and Bible studies through YouTube and Vimeo; FaceBook and Instagram. All not only share that sad common word, they also share the urgency, like Paul, to do all they can, to reach all they can. Add to that constant efforts to retain believers and not lose them; to prepare and deliver sermons that speak words of hope and encouragement, while most in the congregation, either in person, or at home, battle the effects of staying socially distanced and remote from others, especially loved ones. As the title says, "God's work is not easy; but it is rewarding!" Most of those pastors would not trade places with you or me because they are where they know God wants them to be, and they are doing what they know God wants them to do.
We cannot sit on the bench and not offer our assistance, even if it is to pray longer and harder for these pastors and their churches as well as the feelings that sometimes overwhelm each of us during these times of isolation and caution. Satan loves these settings to do his best efforts to distract and discourage; which he knows can lead to "steal, kill, and destroy." (John 10:10). Pray that Jesus lift these pastors' hearts and spirits, that Jesus bless and protect the hearts of the families behind these pastors, while not losing sight of the prize that awaits their faithfulness.
PRAYER: Awesome Father, hear our prayers for these men and women who labor long and hard hours to bless Your people and protect Your kingdom. May the Blood of Jesus cover each servant and each of us, so that the evil one not approach us. We do what we do, for You and Yours; may everything we share bring forth a crop of great return; in Christ Jesus' name we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share yet another prayer for your pastor(s), and for all pastors in your communities. They fight a real enemy, as do we.
Receive my blessings of joy and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
