Whether lead pastor, assistant, associate, youth or worship pastor; each of these callings are an incredible gift from God. In no particular order, here 5 things that I have come to love about being a pastor.
1. I love that it’s from God that I have received this honor, and not from man. Those who do it for man alone are hirelings and should step down immediately.
- Galatians 1:12 “For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”
2. I love to prepare and preach expository sermons; a gospel saturated, contextually rich and applicable message filled with God’s truth from the Bible, and delivered to His dear people.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
3. I love His sheep; God’s precious redeemed ones. I love to see them chew upon the Word, to believe and cling to it as the only hope of spiritual goodness and hope in this life.
- John 21:17 “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
4. I love the Church as a whole and being a part of what God has ordained for the edification of the saints. Apostles, teachers, prophets, evangelists and shepherds (pastors).
- Ephesians 4:11-13 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”
5. I love that it is not by my power through which the office of pastor or any ministry calling succeeds, but by the will and power of the Holy Spirit. Even when people fall and churches crumble in this world, even when I am weak and frail from the work, even if I am to be ridiculed and hated by this world (Jesus assured us that would happen) I can rest in the sovereign God who called me and saved me, and whose power will continue to build His Church.
- Jude 1:24-25 “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
I pray that all of you who occupy the office of pastor/teacher will grow in this holy calling on your life. Take it seriously and with humility. Find fresh inspiration every day in the Spirit and in the Word of God. Fight the good fight till the end so that on that day when you give account you will have done all that was asked of you; not with perfection, but with faithfulness to Jesus your Good Shepherd.
Joel Littlefield 
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