2 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV) The Pastoral Heart

2 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV)
I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 

The pastoral heart is revealed more fully in no other portion of God’s Word than it is in the chapters surrounding this passage.

Paul is shown here in the conflict he faces within himself. He must obey God rather than men. He must preach the Word “not as pleasing men but God, which trieth our hearts.” [1]

This in no way means he has no heart for his congregation. He would die and live with them.

He struggles in his soul, waiting for the response to the Word.He knows the risk. Certainly he has seen it happen too frequently that those he has reached out to have rejected his ministry. What of his most recent attempt? Have these turned against him for his preaching? Have they repented and turned to Christ and to him?

What joy! What relief! News has returned to him of their great heart for him.The pastor is relieved and rejoices that, this time and with this congregation, his ministry has been received in the spirit it was intended. He is strengthened, knowing only too well this will not be his last experience like this.

To my readers:
I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 3700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others

2 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV) The Pastoral Heart

Please consider helping our church’s teen department by signing up for cash back shopping at Bible Baptist Church Fundraiser. This program has three levels of participation, the first being completely free.