Have you received a special gift from God? You might consider your spouse or children as gifts, or your job, or a talent you have been able to develop. But have you ever considered your pastor as a gift? This weekend is Pastor Appreciation Day. It is a good time to think about why the Lord has given him (or her) as a gift to your congregation.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Our pastors have been given a weighty responsibility to shepherd God’s people with right teaching, and God holds them accountable for how they lead. Their assignment is to equip and edify the Body of Christ until… Until what? Until all believers are united in faith, until all believers become perfect men, until all believers measure up to the stature of fullness of Christ. This sounds like an impossible mission! They can’t do this in their own strength; they need more than just the Lord’s help to fulfill this calling. We also have a responsibility to help and uphold our pastors in their tasks.
“Remember those who lead over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, follow their faith and consider the outcome of their conduct…Obey those who lead over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do their job with joy and don’t cause them grief, for that would not benefit you (or them).” (Hebrews 13:7,17)
Let’s bless and help our pastors by living godly and generously. “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16) And be sure to let your pastor know this week how much you appreciate his faithfulness to guide you in your spiritual growth and walk of faith. And why limit your appreciation to one weekend a year? Return your love and support to him all throughout the year. He’s going to need it to fulfill his Mission Impossible.