I Thessalonians 2:7-8, "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."

This morning, there is much pain, suffering, and heartache in the world. To the inward man, there is nothing about this world that is nourishing or sustaining. To find food, rest, and comfort for the soul, one can only be in one place. That is the gathering of the saints together in praise and worship of our Father which is in heaven. In the gathering together and fellowship, we are made to rejoice when we hear of a Saviour's love to unworthy worms as we are. That is what sustains us in this weak and weary land in which we dwell.

With that being said, how can anyone come to the Lord's house and be comforted and fed if the minister is beating and railing upon them? Unfortunately, there are ministers today who seem to have the notion that they are the “high sheriff” among our people, God's authority on everything, and the lord and ruler over the congregation. I make that claim due to the nature of the manner of their preaching. Paul's language to the Thessalonians was that they were dear to him.  They were a group of folks that he loved to be around, was blessed to be a part of, and saddened when parted from their presence. That should be the mentality of every one of God's ministers when they are blessed to be in fellowship with the saints.

 The saints should be objects of affection in the minister's mind. When he stands before them, it is as one that is attempting to feed by the grace of God. Not only is the minister desirous (or should be) to impart the gospel to the saints, but he should also be willing to impart his own soul. That means that he needs to be willing to give the flock anything that they might stand in need of. Each of us is different with different needs, and therefore, it is incumbent upon him to be knowledgeable of those things. Paul said in another place that he was willing "to spend and be spent." (II Corinthians 12:15) There are times that we may feel spent (in the flesh) when we have been to a long and wonderful meeting. However, all the weariness of the flesh is worth the effort if the Lord's people have been blessed by our feeble efforts to be nourished and sustained for a little while longer. Feeding is a constant process (much in the way that natural feeding is), and therefore, the job is never done this side of glory.