“We are the nurses of Christ’s little ones. If we keep from taking food ourselves, we will famish them; it will soon be visible in their leanness, and in the dull discharge of their several duties. If we let our love decline, we are not likely to raise theirs. If we abate our holy care and fear, it will appear in our preaching: if the matter does not show it, the manner will. If we feed on unwholesome food, whether errors or fruitless controversies, our hearers are likely to fare the worse for it. Whereas, if we would abound in faith, and love, and zeal, it would overflow to the refreshment of our congregations, and it would appear in the increase of those same graces in them!”
~ Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor

And oh how the congregations need to be refreshed! Lord, please send ministers to the field that are full of your spirit, gifted to speak Your word that changes lives. Let them be abounding in faith, love, and zeal, as this post suggests.
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