Love - in the Trenches
In the
little letter of I Peter is a phrase that caught my heart's full attention.
It's in the midst of Peter's urgent listing of exhortations as to Christian
behavior under persecution. Many attitudes and activities are offered
and all are pertinent to the Believer today. We are to stand strong, move
against the pattern of worldly living, withstand temptation and take on
the assignment of our individual gift - and "keep fervent
in your love for one another." That is a worthy admonition. Sometimes
in the intensity of our Godly disciplines and holy ministries there is
a lessening of love for the brethren. It comes from all areas. Ministry,
even at the height of its celebration, takes energy. Discipline even in
the victory of its reasonableness, doesn't always give satisfaction. Like
children who have played too long in the heat of summer, we get weary,
fretful and lose touch with the fervency of love. In the ministry keep
fervent love for our fellow ministers. In the battle honor the fellowship
of service. Leaders! Love each other! And parents, oh, especially parents,
keep fervent love for each other. I think it appropriate for the team
under God, called out into service, to take the time daily to pledge to
each other; the fine art of fervent love. That's not an admonition to
the church to love only those in the field of foreign assignment, but
to love the fellow worker who is sweating with you in the trenches. Keep
fervent in the love for one another...or the distant war may be with your
next of kin.
Excerpt
from "Jeannette Clift George, From Center Stage"
