THEY SHOOT THEIR WOUNDED

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:15 KJV

A pastor’s daughter was giving a testimony about when she was a child and she said “Instead of encouraging one another, they shoot their wounded”.  I received an email many years ago from a pastor who wrote “Instead of encouraging me and my family, they criticized us.”

This pastor had been criticized so much, he was thinking about leaving the church.  May God have mercy on us for discouraging pastors.  We read in the Bible “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”.  (John 8:7).

You are not perfect.  I am not perfect.  There was only one perfect Person that ever lived or ever will live and His Name is Jesus.  If Jesus loves us enough to forgive us while still hanging on the cross with the blood flowing down His body, we should forgive the ones who have hurt us.  We hurt people too.

Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author said “I was in an airport with a pastor’s wife and the pastor’s wife  pointed to herself and said “pastors and wives need balcony people”.  Are you willing to be a balcony person and encourage  your pastor and family?  They need to be encouraged.

Heavenly Father, please comfort and encourage every pastor.  May they feel Your love for them.  I pray for all who are lonely, hurting and discouraged.  Please comfort and encourage them.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

December 13, 2018