Burn Like a Fire in Me A Pastor’s Flame of Pain

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?