Cecil: ministers need a devotional habit

Sunday, November 9, 2014
    Commemoration of Margery Kempe, Mystic, after 1433
Meditation:
    Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
    —Titus 1:7-9 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There is a manifest want of spiritual influence on the ministry of the present day. I feel it in my own case, and I see it in that of others. I am afraid that there is too much of a low, managing, contriving, maneuvering temper of mind among us. We are laying ourselves out, more than is expedient, to meet one man’s taste, and another man’s prejudices. The ministry is a grand and holy affair; and it should find in us a simple habit of spirit, and a holy but humble indifference to all consequences.
    The leading defect in Christian ministers is want of a devotional habit.
    ... Richard Cecil (1748-1810), The Works of the Rev. Richard Cecil, v. III, Boston: Crocker and Brewster, 1825, p. 308-309 (see the book)
    See also Tit. 1:7-9; Pr. 28:1; 1 Cor. 16:13; Phil. 1:27-28; 2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant my minister the spirit of devotion. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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