Godly minister must keep his heart warm as he continually pursues and grows closer Christ his Savior. I take the title “kiss the Son” from Psalm 2:12, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Closeness to Jesus is the telos of every Christian and ought to be the highest prize of every minister.

One of the more notable English delegates to the Synod of Dort, John Davenant, makes the observation that the Apostle Paul, when affixing his name to his office as Apostle, does so not only to remind his readers of his office – bestowed upon him by the risen Christ – but also to remind himself! “Paul affixes the name of his office, that he might excite and stir up himself, to fulfil the work of an Apostle. For, in calling himself an Apostle, he owns that the duty of preaching the Gospel was entrusted to him; and woe unto him, if he did not perform it.”1 This is a striking comment because, if true, it reminds us of Paul’s humanity, his weakness, and certainly his daily struggle to fulfill the work of a shepherd. In other words, if this was true of the Apostle Paul how much more ought pastors today “excite and stir up” themselves unto their own ministry?

This is certainly what Paul must’ve meant when he wrote to Timothy, reminding him to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:6-7). In other words, a significant aspect of a pastor’s ministry is his ability to not only remember his station and calling but to keep the fire of zeal hot. Fan into flame the gift of God. 

Calvin’s comment on this injunction is helpful: “The more abundantly that Timothy had received the grace of God, the more attentively… he ought to be in making progress day to day… This exhortation is highly necessary; for it usually happens, and may be said to be natural, that the excellence of gifts produces carelessness, which is also accompanied by sloth; and Satan continually labours to extinguish all that is of God in us. We ought, therefore, on the other hand, to strive to bring to perfection everything that is good in us, and to kindle what is languid; for the metaphor, which Paul employs, is taken from a fire which was feeble, or that was in course of being gradually extinguished, if strength and flame were not added, by blowing upon it and supplying new fuel.”2

I want to offer six ways wherein a pastor can fight sloth, supply new fuel, and fan into flame the gift of God given so as to fulfill his ministry. These are not quick tips and tricks, little gimmicks to excite sleepy pastors. No, these are broad principles, well-trodden paths that pastors should walk down often to maintain true zeal. As Thomas Murphy reminds pastors, “The interests committed, in a most important sense, to this office are such as may well lead him who holds it to seek every possible help in the discharge of its duties. These interests are unspeakably momentous.”³ Here are six paths of help.

Know the Word

The first help offered should come as no surprise, since it so well-known as to be a truth always assumed, yet I dare not neglect it. And it is this: to daily commit yourself to reading, studying, and meditating on God’s life-giving word. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 19:7-8). What could be better, more reviving, more rejoicing, more enlightening than God’s revitalizing and rejuvenating word? It is the greatest source of spiritual life, for through it the Holy Spirit – the Author and perfect Wielder of this great sword – loves to pierce through soul and spirit and bring about the fruit of faith.

Read, read, read, dear Pastor. Put down your phone and read! Is your tired heart beginning to find more joy in the things of this world then in the business of heaven, given to you as a pastor? “In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways” (Ps. 119:14-15). “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:16).

Connected with this is the habit of reading good commentaries on the Word. I don’t mean for sermon prep; I mean for heart-enriching fodder. Particular commentaries – like the Banner of Truth’s Geneva Series commentaries, or John Calvin’s commentaries and sermons – are like older, seasoned pastors preaching to you one on one. Let them expound God’s word to your tired heart.

Kneel in Prayer

It is a well-known truth that those called to be pastors must “devote [themselves] to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4) with the idea of “devote” being a continual exercise. And certainly, a large part of this prayer is prayer for and on behalf of the sheep within your congregation. This is the hard work of prayer which, if done well, tires out the man of God. But ought not the pastor also pray for his own soul and life, finding in his closet fresh resources and remedies for his weariness?

Of course, our Lord was known to retire alone and pray to His Father in the midst of his busy ministry (Mk. 1:35). Indeed, it seems that when the cares and duties of ministry were at its busiest, Jesus found strength in prayer.

Read More

1. John Davenant, Colossians (The Banner of Truth Trust, 2024), p. 5
2. John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, vol. 21 (Baker Books, 2005), p. 188-189
3. Thomas Murphy, Pastoral Theology: The Pastor in the Various Duties of His Office (Log College Press, 2025), p. 21