KEY SCRIPTURE  :1Ti 4:12 KJV “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

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The pastor is called to be an example in conversation. This is an old English word that means manner of life, or better still, his general behaviour. The pastor must distinguish himself as a person of great character. Now, the epitome of excellence in behaviour is love. The bible says love is the fulfilment of the law. Rom 13:10 KJV” Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” The bible also reveals that against a life full of love, there is no law. Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit is love. All that we see as other virtues like peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control are all the manifestations of love. The fruit of the Spirit is not nine but one, which is love and manifests  as all the beautiful virtues.

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The basis of a life full of love is a life full of the spirit. Gal 5:16 KJV “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”Every pastor ought to demonstrate great maturity in his relationship with all persons. Now, that which describes immaturity is carnality. This is a life dominated by the flesh. The flesh is always engrossed in satisfying itself. The flesh makes  itself   the centre of everything.

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The flesh seeks attention and wants an advantage over all others. These tendencies are the bases for greed, coveteousness, and striving, even with marriage partners and what have you. The pastor should be far above these things, for he should be a mature person, that is, a man of the Spirit.

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As the scriptures describe love in 1 Corinthians 13. The pastor should be a kind man. He should be ready to sacrifice for the well-being of others. He is always moved by the plight of the poor and needy. Self-righteousness is simply out of his life because he is purely a product of God’s grace, which h attributes EVERYTHING he is or has as a product of the Spirit. He would never compare himself with others. The pastor is never arrogant. He deeply respects the uniqueness of all and would not act in ways that cast degrading tendencies on others.

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The pastor should be a person of great humility. Humility is simply a life that honours God’s word. It is in submission to God that shows real humility. Humility is never in any outward gestures of piety and calmness. One may show all these, but deep rebellions towards the Lord. It is one’s submission to God and His word that makes him or her relate to others with great respect for all, both young and old.

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THOUGHT: LOVE IS EQUAL TO GOOD BEHAVIOUR

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Jas 3:17 KJV “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

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Gal 5:14 KJV” For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”