Your Pastor

I ran into a sweet friend of mine this morning while out running errands. We chatted for a bit, catching up, and then we got onto talking about pastors and churches. As we talked, as well as afterwards, it made me think about what we expect from our pastors and how we respond to them. I really can't imagine being a pastor...trying to stay true to the Word, be yourself, and meeting a couple hundred people's expectations...that's a pretty impossible task.

Last year, I was convicted about how bad a job I do of supporting my pastor. That led me to being more purposeful in praying for him. How many of us really do that on a consistent basis? Yet what an incredibly simple way we can benefit him. Being intentional about encouraging him with what you've learned from the sermon, dropping him a note/email telling something you appreciate, baking some cookies just out of the blue, or being willing to serve where needed can be a great blessing to our pastors/church leaders.

Honestly, we will never be a part of a church where things are 100% to our liking...that's just not going to happen. And, yes, there are some legitimate reasons to seek a new church family. But, what a difference could be made in our churches if we all were diligent in growing personally, lifting up our church leaders in prayer, and looking for ways to use our gifts to the betterment of the church body.

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb 3:17