Prison Guide, John Parker, shares the key to empathy and caring!
Paul’s explanation for his confidence and joy is that his heart is involved. He explains, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:7–8, ESV)
Paul’s joy and deep affection for others emerge from his deep connection with Jesus. Invest in your inner relationship with Jesus Christ and his affection will start affecting your all relationships for the good—now and forever!
Today’s passage: “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:7–8, ESV)
Consider being a vital part of this teaching by leaving your encouraging comment or word below.
John and the “Giv’m Heaven” Team! (CHT)*
I had just committed my self to be a Pastor. I was sitting in an auditorium listening to a man who had been a Pastor of a world famous church, preached at conferences all over the world, wrote dozens of Bible books. He said Pastors had to maintain a professional distance from the sheep, the lay people. Shepherds and sheep are different, he said. I thought, maybe his is the only one who thinks that. Every book or article on Pastoring agreed with him. But I knew this was wrong. Paul was intimate and mutual with God’s people. They were not sheep to him. Paul was no elevated Pastor. He kept people in his heart with the affection of Christ. I determined that was the kind of spiritual leader I would be. I soon gave up the hired Pastor version with it’s distance. I became a marketplace worker who helped people grow spiritual, up close, very close. No lecturing of the Bible. Just “teaching and admonishing one another”. Col. 3:16. I am thankful God spared me from living in professional distance from God’s people.
Thank you=, Tim.
I too was taught to call myself Pastor Parker by my professors. My “business card” read J. S. Parker, Pastor. I never used my first name.
Then, when my next-door neighbor and friend, Andy, came to church and heard others calling me Pastor Parker he asked, “Hey, Jack (one of the nicknames), what do I call you now? Right then and there in the church lobby, I made a fateful decision and responded, “Just keep calling me Jack.” And, I’ve been slip-slidin’ away from the traditions ever since.