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Let us cherish the Executive Minister’s earnest regard for us by being true to our service to the Lord God Who appointed our leader for our edification.
ENTRUSTED WITH A DELICATE MISSION, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), ably and prudently fulfills his God-given duty motivated by his profound love for us. We can feel his genuine concern for our spiritual growth and welfare consistently expressed through his deep commitment toward its completion.
Embodying the qualities of a loving guardian, which is what his first name means, Brother Eduardo Manalo diligently toils day and night to safeguard the Lord’s nation in these last days and bring it to salvation.
On the 31st of October, we will commemorate the birth anniversary of our esteemed spiritual leader. To us, this important occasion is a manifestation of God’s unfailing love for the Church, because He has protected the man whom He placed to watch over and care for us.
In light of this, we must not only appreciate to the utmost how the Executive Minister demonstrates his love for us but also reciprocate that love through our devotion to our divine election which he endeavors to protect.
How does the Executive Minister regard and feel toward us whom he administers? As Apostle Paul, who administered the first-century Christians in the Gentile region, expressed to them:
“Dear brother Christians, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and my reward for my work. My beloved friends, stay true to the Lord.” (Phil. 4:1 Living Bible)
Brother Eduardo Manalo regards us as his source of joy and the reward for his tireless efforts. Our commitment to our membership in positive response to his imparting us God’s will brings happiness to the Executive Minister. Although we may not always see him in person, we can feel his love through his unwavering dedication to his monumental task. This dedication is evident in the pastoral visitations he conducts around the world, reflecting his longing to see us, know our spiritual condition, and instruct us in God’s words.
So, let us cherish the Executive Minister’s earnest regard for us by being true to our service to the Lord God Who appointed our leader for our edification (II Cor. 10:8). We can prove this by being faithful and closely following the biblical teachings we receive through his preaching, as resonated in Apostle Paul’s exhortation:
“My friends, that’s why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters.
“When our Lord Jesus returns, we will be gathered up to meet him. …” (II Thess. 2:15, 1 Contemporary English Version)
Apostle Paul guaranteed the Christians then, just as the Executive Minister does today, that by closely following the words of God being taught to us, we will be among those who will be gathered up to meet our Lord Jesus Christ on His return or be saved on Judgment Day.
What else does the Executive Minister do to ensure we constantly receive God’s teachings and remain firm in our faith, and what is his reason for doing so? Apostle Paul declared:
“That is why I had to send Timothy. I could not bear it any longer, so I sent him to find out about your faith. Surely it could not be that the Devil had tempted you and all our work had been for nothing!
“While we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and help your faith, … because now we really live if you stand firm in your life in union with the Lord.” (I Thess. 3:5, 2, 8 Good News Bible)
Like what Apostle Paul did, the Executive Minister sends God’s co-workers—ministers and ministerial workers—to various parts of the world to know about the condition of our faith. Their goal is to strengthen us by teaching God’s words and ensure that the enemy of our faith, has not tempted us away from fulfilling our duties as Christians.
On our part, let us do our very best to safeguard our faith, following the advice of Apostle Paul:
“Be on guard against anything that would hinder you spiritually. You have believed the true message; continue believing it firmly. Be courageous. Keep strong in your relationship with God.” (I Cor. 16:13 Translation for Translators)
This is why the Executive Minister consistently admonishes us to remain cautious against anything that can hinder us spiritually, that is, from our services of God and life of obedience to Him. We can achieve this by continuing to believe firmly in the true message or God’s words, being courageous, and maintaining a strong relationship with God.
What is the Executive Minister’s earnest desire for all his efforts during his dynamic leadership? Philippians 2:12 and 16 states:
“So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation. … I shall have reason to be proud of you on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work have not been wasted.” (gnb)
Since we are the reward or result of his labors, the Executive Minister desires that his efforts, along with those who also had administered the Church, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, God’s Messenger in these last days, and Brother Eraño G. Manalo, not be wasted. This means he can be proud of us if their efforts for the Church lead to our salvation when Jesus Christ returns.
To achieve our ultimate goal of attaining eternal life, we must remain obedient to God and submissive to our spiritual leader. Otherwise, his sacrifices and hard work for us are at risk of being wasted if we allow ourselves to be hindered or prevented from obeying the truth and God’s laws (Gal. 4:11; 5:7–8).
Hence, we must be vigilant against the devil, and his tactics, as he tries to slowly remove from our minds and make us stop thinking about the teachings of God that have been taught to us through the Church Administration (John 8:44; Luke 8:12).
As part of his love for us, the Executive Minister always keeps us in his prayers to God. As he lovingly leads the Church toward salvation, his prayers for us echo those of Apostle Paul:
“I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.” (Eph. 3:16–17 Easy-to-Read Version)
As our spiritual leader, the Executive Minister fully understands the challenges true Christians face in navigating this world. That is why, as we often hear him say during the worship services he officiates, he prays that God Almighty will grant us the power and strength, through the Holy Spirit, to overcome any hardships we may encounter. The Executive Minister also prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts every day of our lives so that our lives will remain strong and steadfast in our love for God and Christ.
Ultimately, with our salvation at heart, Brother Eduardo Manalo tirelessly fulfills the immense responsibility of leading a global Church. He is willing to dedicate even his own life for us, as his sole desire is to “present [us] perfect” before the Lord Jesus Christ, making us worthy of receiving salvation:
“Whom we preach, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present them perfect in Christ Jesus. In this I labor, striving according to His power, which effectively works in me.” (Col. 1:28–29 Modern English Version)
