Most of us have felt a deep sense that God called us into ministry. Part of who we are as youth workers means that we love people. Specifically, we love our students and their families. It isn\u2019t always easy, but we know that loving them is part of our calling.<\/p>\n
But what about the church staff? Due to the nature of working with flawed humans, including ourselves, we sometimes forget to love those we work with\u2026and those work for. (If my pastor is reading this now\u2026this has never happened to me. This is totally hypothetical.)<\/p>\n
In John 13:35, Jesus tells his follower that our love will prove to the world that we are his disciples. Our love\u2013not just for the lost and the broken, but for each other. In 1 John, there is a really big emphasis on our ability to love God tied to loving our brothers.<\/p>\n
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The reality is that there is and will be conflict in ministry. You will not always see eye-to-eye with your co-workers\u2026or worse with your boss.\u00a0 This will happen. And if we are not careful, things can happen to our hearts\u2026bad things.<\/p>\n
What happens in our heart leads us to a place where it is easier to love the hurting students in our ministries while struggling with feelings of frustration with our own peers. \u201cThese people\u201d are not easy to love.<\/p>\n
And yet\u2026<\/p>\n
Our love for each other will prove to those watching (our students) that we belong to Jesus.<\/p>\n
Love is essential\u2026even (and maybe especially) when it comes to our staff.<\/p>\n
How do you choose love?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 1. Go to the Source.<\/strong> God is love. It is the very basis of what we believe. If we need help loving\u2026go to the Source. Go to the One who loves you\u2026and the One who even loves that ornery co-worker. Ask him to fill you with his love in a way that overflows naturally to those that you are surrounded by each day.<\/p>\n