Disclaimer: This post is not about my wife and I. Though we have pastored a couple of churches in the past, we are not pastoring now. However, we do know what it’s like; the joys, the sorrows, the pressures, the emotions and spiritual battles involved with one of the most important ministries in the Kingdom of God.
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” (Isaiah 40:11 NLT)
Everyone needs a pastor. Yes, everyone.
You’ve probably heard someone refer to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He carries His lambs in His arms, HOLDING THEM CLOSE TO HIS HEART. This is also how His “under” shepherds, His pastors, minister to the church.
Of course, there are some pastors who don’t seem to measure up. Maybe they could use some assistance from people like you and I.
I remember years ago, when I was cultivating my “preacher’s itch”, our pastor, whom we dearly loved, resigned from the church. We were heart broken. The church was small, the pastor worked outside the church to take care of his family, PLUS cleaned the church early Sunday mornings.
I know he cared for us. But I didn’t think he needed cared for. I remember arriving at church early on Sundays, seeing the pastor vacuuming the hallway, and instead of finishing the job for him so he could rest before preaching, I’d tell him all about my latest “revelation” while he continued working. And when he told the church he was resigning, I offered to help teach a class or two instead of volunteering to clean toilets.
I was terribly immature!
But I didn’t realize it until after we lost a great man of God! (I did clean the church for the next pastor)
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Show your pastors you REALLY care for them. Pray for them, take them out for a nice meal; better yet, give them a gift card to a nice, quiet restaurant and offer to babysit their kids.
Carry them close to your heart by praying for them, shutting down gossip about them when you hear it. Be regular in church attendance and give your tithes and offerings like you know you should.
You say you love your pastor(s)? Don’t love them in word only, but in deed and truth; just like you want to be loved.
God has them watching out for you and I; let’s do our part and watch out for them.
Here’s an idea from Paul. “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NLT)
Jan Grace 