"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." -- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
My grip is no different than most men my age. I can easily crush a soda can with one hand or maintain a firm grip on my "All American" hound when she wants to chase a squirrel across the street. At the same time I can hold a new born infant tenderly or carry an egg across the kitchen without breaking the shell. It's God's creative gift to have an iron grip in a velvet glove.
The believer has much the same quality spiritually. As Paul counsels, we are to be firm and strong, doing everything in love. Our guard should never be down and our courage should never wane. We are to have a spiritual strength that confronts evil forcefully and presses on toward righteousness powerfully. At the same time we are to minister with the loving compassion and tenderness of our heavenly Father. We are born anew with an iron grip in a velvet glove.
How about you my pastor friend? Are you the kind of leader that is known to be firm and strong? Yet, is it rare that anyone experiences your loving touch? Or are you quite loving in everything but have lost the courage to deal with evil, choosing the hard, but right path? The Lord created and gifted you with a unique grip, both physically and a spiritually. As you follow the call to lead with an "iron grip in a velvet glove" you will discover amazing balance and blessing in all your ministry pursuits.
~ PJVS
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