Like "a Burning Fire" in Our Hearts

The ministry that Jehovah has entrusted to us is far too precious to be allowed to become commonplace.  The apostle Paul considered the preaching of the good news a very great privilege, and he viewed himself  as unworthy to be entrusted with it. He said: "To me, a man less than the least of all holy ones, this undeserved kindness was given, that I should declare to the nations the good news about the unfathomable riches of the Christ and should make men see how the sacred secret is administered  which has from the indefinite past been hidden in God, who created all things." -Ephesians 3:8, 9.

Paul's positive attitude about his ministry is an excellent example for us. In his letter to the Romans, he stated:  "There is eagerness on my part to declare the good news." He was not ashamed of  the good news.  (Romans 1:15, 16) He had the right attitude and was eager to carry out his ministry.  

The apostle Paul recognized the need for maintaining  a zealous viewpoint, so he admonished the Christians in Rome:  "Do not loiter at your business. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah." (Romans 12:11) The Greek word translated  "loiter" carries the thought of being "sluggish, slothful," While we may not actually loiter in our ministry, all of us need to be alert to any early symptoms of spiritual sluggishness and make appropriate adjustments in our attitude if we perceive such symptoms in ourselves. -Proverbs 22:3.

God's spirit can also help us when we are discouraged. For instance, on one occasion the prophet Jeremiah found himself discouraged, and he considered stopping his prophetic work. He even said Jehovah:  "I am not going to make mention of him, and I shall speak no more in his name." Was this an evidence of a serious spiritual deficiency in Jeremiah?  No. In fact, Jeremiah's strong spirituality, his love for Jehovah, and his zeal for the truth empowered him to continue prophesying.  He explains:  "In my heart [the word of Jehovah] proved to be like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I got tired of holding in, and I was unable to endure it." (Jeremiah 20:9) It is natural that faithful servants of God experience discouragement from time to time. But when they pray to Jehovah for help, he will read their hearts and freely impart to them his holy spirit, if like Jeremiah, they have his word in their hearts. -Luke 11:9-13; Acts 15:8.

Next time: "Do Not Put Out the Fire of the Spirit" 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000