“And we beseech you, brethren. To know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Yesterday I left you with several pastors talking about their discouraging situations. A third pastor wisely counseled his fellow pastors to stay faithful, to keep encouraging their families, and to occasionally remind their people that they do all these things because someday they will give an account to the Lord according to Hebrews 13:17.

The day before, a very young child had shook his pastor’s hand and then presented him a folded sheet of paper. Opening it right then as the youngster watched, the pastor saw an amazing work of art. With crayons, the child had drawn a picture of the pastor, the pulpit, and the people who came to church. At the bottom the child had written, “I am glad that you are my pasture. I love you!” It was a treasure. It wasn’t the first time he’d been called a pasture rather than pastor. But never had it meant any more than it did that day. How are you encouraging your pastor?

For today: I want to live in such a way as to help my pastor to be glad that he’s my pastor. How about you? What was the last thing you did to communicate this to him, his wife, and even his family?