So we do not lose heart. ESVUK

He was a rugged Scotsman. He had been involved, for some time, in a church planting initiative in the north of his country. He and his wife were good friends with a couple in a church in Lancaster where I was the (very young) pastor for a year or two. This too was a ‘church plant’. As he preached on that particular Sunday, he kept looking at me and saying, ‘It’s a fight a’ the way, but fight on brother!’

‘Fight on brother.’

Paul says that in view of God’s power, which he had so often experienced, and with the prospect of a glorious resurrection before him, he does not give up. He will fight on.

This is the second time in the chapter that he affirms ”…we do not lose heart” (see verse 1). Loss of heart is an ever present, and potentially deadly, possibility for Christian leaders. It can leas to giving up. For the most part, it has to be admitted, our leadership troubles here in the western world are significantly less intense than those faced by the early Christians. But our troubles are our troubles. They are still troubles and they trouble us. I may know full well that I’m not imprisoned for my faith, and I’ve nothing to complain about. But these seemingly insoluble issues in the local church are causing me so much pain I’m really not sure how much longer I can keep getting out of bed and doing this. Pastoral troubles are real, and they can take good people out of the game.

I ‘retired’ just over two years ago, after around 44 years in pastoral ministry. I was (and I remain) deeply grateful that I made it over the finishing line. There were times when it was hard to put one more step in front of another. I can surely testify, however that God is always good, and He wants to strengthen us to fulfil His will for our lives.

So, let’s ‘fight on’.

PRAYER: Take time today to pray for your pastor and leaders (and/or some others known to you.) Pray that, like David of old, they will strengthen themselves in God. Perhaps you might want to send them a note to say you’re praying for them. May we also strengthen them with our prayers and encouragement.