| | This Sunday, for Mother's Day, I plan to preach from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, in which Paul compares himself and his missionary colleagues to nursing mothers, paying mothers a very high compliment. However, this passage is really about those who would serve others in ministry (paid or unpaid, so all Christians, in theory). Here is a gem of a quote that I found in John Calvin's commentary on this passage.
"A mother in nursing her children manifests a certain rare and wonderful affection, inasmuch as she spares no labor and trouble, shuns no anxiety, is wearied out by no assiduity, and even with cheerfulness of spirit gives her own blood to be sucked. In the same way, Paul declares that he was so disposed towards the Thessalonians, that he was prepared to lay out his life for their benefit. This, assuredly, was not the conduct of a man that was sordid or avaricious, but of one that exercised a disinterested affection, and he expresses this in the close — because ye were dear unto us In the mean time, we must bear in mind, that all that would be ranked among true pastors must exercise this disposition of Paul—to have more regard to the welfare of the Church than to their own life, and not be impelled to duty by a regard to their own advantage, but by a sincere love to those to whom they know that they are conjoined, and laid under obligation."
We would do well to honor and to offer our sincere thanks to all who have shared their lives for our well-being - mothers for our physical well-being, and mothers, fathers, pastors, Bible study leaders, etc. for our spiritual well-being. |
| | Posted 5/8/2009 11:21 AM - 21 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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