Pray for your Pastors.
I grieve at the loss of Darrin Patrick. He was a man of God who God used greatly.
Pastors carry a weighty load. Not only do Pastors carry their own weighty loads, they carry the weighty loads of the people under whom God has placed in their care.
Sharing. Listening. Counseling. Laughing. Grieving. Preaching. Rebuking. Caring. Loving. Leading. Guiding. Sympathizing. Helping.
Much of the time, these things are not easy. Multiply your situation times the number of people in your church, plus others who randomly stop by for help, and you have a part of what a Pastor carries.
Pastors can be very lonely. They need others to help carry their loads.
When you disagree with your Pastor, please disagree in a spirit of humility and gentleness: Not because he can’t handle it, but he is already discouraged with a situation you know nothing about.
There is always something a Pastor is dealing with.
Listen to your Pastor. Take heed his counsel. He cares deeply for you.
Hebrews 13:17
[17] Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (ESV)
This is not an absolute, “obey your Pastor!” It is a joyful submission under their leadership. (If you cannot listen to your Pastor’s advice, why are you submitting yourself under their leadership? Is it because of your hardness of heart? Granted, it could be your Pastor is difficult. I believe that is the exception). My point is more, Pastors know they will have to give an account for how they shepherd God’s people.
Did you know that? Pastors will give an account for how they shepherd God’s people.
That’s weighty.
And sometimes Pastors struggle through the challenges set before them. Weighty challenges.
Pray for your Pastors.
Pray your Pastors will be fortified in the inner-man so they may be an example to the flock God has given them.
Pray your Pastors do not give up hope. Pray your Pastors will stand firm upon the Gospel for which they have been called to preach.
And right now, pray for Darrin Patrick’s family. They also carry a heavy weight of loss.
Above all, pray.
1 reply on “Pray for your Pastors”
[…] We live in uncertain times. We need to pray for our Pastors. […]