Nougat 9

Today’s Holy Nougat reminds me of some challenges I’ve faced. Despite that, I invite you to reflect with me.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 CEVDCI

[12] We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient.

[13] When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world.

What Others Think

In ministry, it is not uncommon to encounter some of the most challenging aspects of human experience. And, as ordained ministers, our words and actions may sometimes be influenced by public opinion. This can be taken both positively and negatively: it may encourage us to remain connected to God so that we live lives that please God. Or, we opt to please ourselves, wearing masks – or not – as we cope with the strain of living in a fishbowl.

Self-Check

As public personalities, to what extent do we live for the crowd and their expectations?

Digging Deeper

I wish I could say that I’ve mastered the ability to live and let live; but I’m still a work in progress. There were times when I’ve opted to ‘live for the onlookers’, failing to recall that it’s God Who called me to ministry. Yet, I also remember moments when I’ve opted to respond in self; meeting anger and resentment in like manner. It was neither healthy nor positive. I know God was not happy. I’ve since repented and am working on living God’s way, without masks.

Ephesians 6:6 challenges workers to be obedient to their masters at all times – not with ‘eye service as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ’. Siblings, this is what we must aspire toward. Not ministering as others would have us, not rendering ‘evil for evil’, but as God would have us live, even when we are castigated or abused. That’s the principle of turning the other cheek and also of living lives that please God.

For those of us who aren’t in full-time ministry, please, Please, PLEASE! Do not take this Nougat to mean that it is okay to abuse ministers. It isn’t okay to abuse anyone. I believe that Paul was trying to be subtle, hoping that the Corinthian church would opt to live differently. I really don’t think he was inviting us to be people pleasers.

Our task then, is to ensure that as much as is in our power, we live lives to please God, bearing fruit (of God’s Spirit) in season. Selah

Point to Ponder

Can we commit to intervening in cases of church abuse, whether it is congregation against leaders or vice versa?

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May all we seek be found in Christ