“Tend the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre” (dishonest gain NKJV) “but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).
Victor had only wanted a small coffee. Suddenly he was being pulled into a conversation with Pastor Ken and one of his deacons. Victor, a neighboring pastor, knew that things weren’t good at Pastor Ken’s church. It was a conversation that produced obvious tension at the fast food table. “What do you see in my ministry, Victor?” Pastor Ken asked. “What do I need to do to help things at my church?” Ken asked with a look of pain in his eyes. “I can’t tell you what to do, Ken, but since you have asked me about your ministry, I have to ask you, do you view yourself as a shepherd or do you view yourself as a CEO of the local church?” Victor spoke quietly. “I don’t want to be part of this conversation, but since you have asked, Ken, being a shepherd who takes care of God’s sheep because he loves them with all his heart is what makes a pastor approachable. You have more of a CEO manner of ministry, and honestly, no one wants to come to a CEO when he or she is hurting,” Victor said as tears ran down his cheeks. The deacon spoke very quietly. “Pastor Ken, look at Pastor Victor. He doesn’t even know us, but he’s crying. Look at you. I can’t remember ever seeing you teary-eyed about anything. I’ve seen you angry plenty of times. But I think in just a sentence or two, Pastor Vic has explained to you some of the problem.”
For today: May pastors view themselves as shepherds. May our hearts be tender and eyes moist with tears. Pray for your pastors, and pastors, pray that we will be shepherd-like in our ministries.