Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:8
Where do you get the stamina for a lifetime of ministry?
Ministry can be started through marvelous gifts, but it is only sustained by faith and love. Gifted people can be like firecrackers—they go up with a big noise and a flash of light, and then they fizzle out after a short time. A lot of people start, and they never finish.
A wise pastor once said, “Pray for a heart full of love for the people God has called you to serve.” This is great advice, wherever God has called you to serve. In order to sustain ministry in the long term you have to love the people you serve and believe that God is at work among them, whether it’s a Sunday school class, a Bible study, or your family.
Perseverance is like happiness. People who go after happiness never get it. But people who go after godliness find happiness in its wake. It’s the same with patience or perseverance. You can’t go after it directly. You only get it by going after faith and love.
You can be sure that faith and love will not fizzle out: “So now faith, hope, and love abide” (13:13). Faith and love are the roots of perseverance, so pursue faith and you will get perseverance; practice love and you will get patience.
Who are the people God has called you to serve? Ask God for a heart full of love for them.
