In his commentary on the book of 1 John (published in one volume under the title Life in Christ), Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives us a peak into his mindset as a pastor and preacher when it comes to studying a text of Scripture in preparation for preaching it to his congregation.
“Furthermore, it is when one confronts a text like this that one realizes what a privilege it is to be a Christian minister. I am rather sorry for anyone who has not had to spend a week with a verse like this! I assure you it is a very enriching experience, a humbling one and an uplifting one. There is nothing surely in this life that can be more wonderful or more glorious than to have to spend a week or so with a word like this, looking at it, listening to it, and considering what others have said about it. It is indeed something for which one humbly thanks God.” p.281-282No doubt preaching is very hard work, and the vast majority of that work is done beforehand in the pastor’s study. But let everyone who so diligently labors in the study and in the pulpit remember the great privilege that is his in doing so, and (as Lloyd-Jones suggests), humbly thank God for it!
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