– Exodus 32:7
The Glue For Me and You
Do you ever wonder why God established leadership in His church? Pastors are God's anointed and chosen leaders, tasked (and sometimes burdened), with helping to keep the flock from falling to pieces. Yes, that's over-simplified, but if you think about it, we, left to our own devices – ideas, beliefs, customs, preferences, likes, dislikes, etc., can make a huge mess of things without really meaning to. We get our feelings hurt, we get offended, we get impatient, and we get indignant – all symptoms of the pride and self-serving attitudes that we, especially in America, seem to wear on our sleeves.
God is Holy. He cannot tolerate sin. If it was up to Him, we would all be burnt to crispy critters because of our sin (keep reading Exodus, Chapter 32 to see what I mean). But God, in His infinite Wisdom, and His never-ending Grace and Forgiveness, developed a way for chosen and anointed leaders to "try," to keep some semblance of order in the body of believers they have been assigned to. He put the onus on them, and I can't think of a more stressful job in this crazy world we live in. I mean think about it . . . even when everything is going well, out of the blue, sister or brother so-and-so, because of one word, or gesture, or type-o in the church bulletin. can send a scathing letter, or email (all in caps), or request a meeting because THEY think they know how things SHOULD be done. C'mon Man!
God speaks to our Pastors (just like He spoke to Moses), and HE directs their steps, and their walk, and their leadership style. He created a wide variety of ways and styles for which to worship Him, and in each of these styles, He placed a man (or woman), so that their specific talents and God-given abilities and gifts, can help HIm (God), enrich and grow a people who understand the God of the universe; the God who created all things; the God who holds their very breath in the palm of His hand. The pastor is God's representative in the church, and while we have the responsibility to listen and to discern so that we aren't being led over a cliff (hey . . . pastors are human too), we should respect the position and authority that God has placed over them.
The people, whom God called out of sin into His family through Grace, and Forgiveness, and Love . . . His church . . . is falling to pieces! We're always falling to pieces! I think it's time we start appreciating the Glue that He's given us to hold us all together . . . our Pastor! Let your Pastor know how much you appreciate him today. I bet for a lot of you it's been a long, long time since you last let them know how grateful you are for their time, their dedication, their prayers, their wisdom, and their love for a fickle people that can turn on them like last week's tuna salad. So give them a hug; send them a card; write them a nice email (with a happy face at the end). Do or say something that will encourage them and let them know, that you know, that God sent them, and that's good enough!
Prayer
Father, Thank You!
Thank You, for not burning us all up out of Righteous and Holy anger.
Forgive our pettiness and our desire to be in control and for being such a prideful people.
Help us oh Lord, to have grace and wisdom when it comes to our pastor, but most of all, help us to respect the man, the woman, the position that You have sent us and who holds us all together so that we can worship You.
Have a blessed day everyone!
– Richard
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