Burn Like a Fire in Me
A Pastor’s Flame of Pain
The Apostle Paul said he faced real pain in his heart daily
Due to the weakness and deception of people
Those who care much will also pain much
Remember pastors and those who care for others
A shepherd is to care for the sheep.
Caring is not easy when what we care
about fails to reach its joy and potential.
The church is people “ekklesia” called out ones.
There is great joy when a pastor sees someone come to Christ.
Watching the life transformation is thrilling.
Seeing an old destructive habit and way of life pass
away as a person starts to trust God with their life.
When a person makes Jesus Lord of their
life and makes a commitment to going,
doing and saying what God wants for them.
The excitement and passion
of a pastor is burning on high.
But the things we care most
about can give us the greatest pain.
I still feel the pain in my heart when I think of a couple
I joined together at the marriage altar get a divorce.
I get angry when I see Christians drift
away from the faith and the church.
These are real pains a pastor faces.
The apostle Paul said this was a daily burden.
Paul said that when he saw weakness
in the believers it made him feel weak.
The hopelessness you feel when your efforts of help
and strength did not help a person resist temptation.
The other day I heard of a man who was in a Christian
church for years and now is in a Unitarian cult
renouncing Jesus as God or the Savior of the world.
I burn with anger at the false religions
and the deception of the Devil.
Paul said this too was a daily burden.
Yes, it happens people fall away to sin and
false beliefs but for the pastor it is not easy.
It hurts and hearts sinks in pain and anger.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 in his pain
takes a move that he calls foolish.
He points out to the believers his actions, his commitment
and
sacrifice in hopes that those drifting away will see how
much he cares
and out of respect will listen to his words to turn back to
the Lord.
I think Paul reminds us to remember the caring pastor.
The pastor may look strong like the apostle Paul
but because they care more they also suffer more.
I have watched many godly men and
women arise to the needs of others…
Give others strength when they were weak.
I have also seen them when they come to the altar
in private crying out in unbelievable pain to God.
I have seen them in a private place shouting out to heaven
releasing the weighs of anger over the sins of the people.
If you really care about people and God’s fullness
for their lives you will have times when your heart
will be consumed with pain and anger.
So this Sunday when you see your
pastor greet you with a smile…
Remember he may have worked hard to put that
smile on for you as inside he is deeply concerned
for the souls of weak and deceived people.
Your show of appreciation to him is just what
he needs to help him know the battle is worth it.
Paul looked for that recognition and so does
your pastor and those who care for others.
Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 11:28-29 NLT
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my
concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness?
Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
