OUR PASTOR

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

Isaiah 52:7 KJV

We need to thank God for our pastor and pray for our pastor every day.  Pastors are on call twenty four hours a day.  There are times when they have to get up in the middle of the night and go to the hospital.  They also sacrifice personal time with their families to minister to us.  They get discouraged just like we do.

It is very important that we encourage our pastors.  Several years ago, a pastor emailed me and wrote “I am so discouraged that I am thinking of not only leaving this church but also to stop being a pastor.  Instead of the congregation encouraging my family and me, they have criticized us.”

I’m reminded of a teenage boy who said to his parents “You go to church, sing in the choir, and teach Sunday school but when you come home you criticize the pastor and the sermon.  If this is what being a Christian means, I don’t want any part of it”.  How that must have hurt Jesus and broke His heart.

Not only did these parents criticize the pastor and the sermon and discouraged their son, they also hurt Jesus.  If ever someone deserves to be happy, it is Jesus, the Saviour of the world!  He has done so much for us.  The least we can do is make Him happy.  Are we making Him happy or hurting Him?

Heavenly Father, I pray for every pastor.  Please encourage them and let them feel Your love for them as they have never felt it before.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.          

Joanne Lowe

November 4, 2016