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LOVE YOUR LEADER
'I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you' Jeremiah 3:15
Did you know that over 50% of those who enter full-time Christian ministry leave it within ten years because of discouragement? Ground down by the demands of unappreciative people, starved of positive words, they just give up and go back to something else. Isn't that tragic? 'Pastor' simply means 'shepherd' - and God knows we need shepherds.
In many ways we're just like sheep - often we're a bit thick, we don't know what's good for us, we follow the herd, and we get ourselves into some real scrapes. But a pastor leads his sheep to safe places where they can feed and grow. He protects them from predators and other dangers.
Pastors need pastoring too. Of course, they need to look first of all to Jesus, who calls himself the Good Shepherd (see John 10: 1-21). But we have a part to play - and there's a good reason why. Hebrews 13:17 says God gives us leaders and spiritual mentors to '...watch over [our] souls...' and we are to '...give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow.'
Interestingly, the writer finishes with a few extra words: 'That would certainly not be for your benefit' (NLT). Loving the leaders God has given us is good for us too.
What now? Cheer your pastor or youth leader on today by sending them words of encouragement in a card, letter or email. Spend time working on the right words so they know exactly how you feel.
written by Bob Gass
'I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you' Jeremiah 3:15
Did you know that over 50% of those who enter full-time Christian ministry leave it within ten years because of discouragement? Ground down by the demands of unappreciative people, starved of positive words, they just give up and go back to something else. Isn't that tragic? 'Pastor' simply means 'shepherd' - and God knows we need shepherds.
In many ways we're just like sheep - often we're a bit thick, we don't know what's good for us, we follow the herd, and we get ourselves into some real scrapes. But a pastor leads his sheep to safe places where they can feed and grow. He protects them from predators and other dangers.
Pastors need pastoring too. Of course, they need to look first of all to Jesus, who calls himself the Good Shepherd (see John 10: 1-21). But we have a part to play - and there's a good reason why. Hebrews 13:17 says God gives us leaders and spiritual mentors to '...watch over [our] souls...' and we are to '...give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow.'
Interestingly, the writer finishes with a few extra words: 'That would certainly not be for your benefit' (NLT). Loving the leaders God has given us is good for us too.
What now? Cheer your pastor or youth leader on today by sending them words of encouragement in a card, letter or email. Spend time working on the right words so they know exactly how you feel.
written by Bob Gass
