A Pastor’s Heart & What Makes It Beat
Recently, someone asked me, “You’re a pastor, and you work with pastors, so tell me, where have all the pastors gone?” This person was not referring to pastors who have walked away from ministry but those who serve in pastoral positions but are not pastors in heart – they do not have a pastoral heartbeat.
The church world is filled with leaders in pastoral positions: their being is that of a leader; their doing is leadership. They fill their pastoral role not as pastors but as leaders. They are entrepreneurial more than pastoral, directors more than teachers. They are task-driven rather than people-focused, and project coordinators more than spiritual directors. They are driven by programs and agendas more than prayer and the Word, compelled by grand visions more than the love of Christ for people.
But There Are Those
But there are those Psalm 23-model undershepherds of Jesus: pastors who lead. There are those pastors who cherish their biblical role as shepherds of God’s people.
They guide us to green pastures and still waters.
They help us experience the soul restoration that Jesus offers. They lead us in righteous paths for His name’s sake.
When we must walk through the valley of the shadow of death – along with its fears and sorrows – they walk with us, caring and comforting. As living parables of Jesus, they set Him, not themselves, ever before us; we fear no evil. We know and trust them because they are present with us in our journey. And yes, their spiritual discipline and direction give us comfort.
Even when confronted by life’s enemies, we sit at a table of plenty, provided for and well-fed by our shepherds’ ministry of the Gospel. God uses them to anoint our heads with oil that flows through our souls in whole life Spirit covering. God uses them as vessels of honor to fill the cup of our life over and over again.
Looking to Jesus through my shepherd, we see God’s goodness and mercy are pursuing us always, and we will dwell in the presence of the Lord forever.
Pastors in Heart
In I Thessalonians 2.1-11, the Apostle Paul gives us a look at the EKG of the pastor-shepherd – not a clinical, numbers-focused performance, but a character-based, relational energy that makes us long for these kinds of pastors throughout the church of Jesus Christ.
In going to the heart of pastoral ministry, Paul looks less at the “-ing” of pastoring, and more at the “pastor-“ of pastoring. Being first, then the doing.
Look carefully and you’ll note in verses 4-6 while Paul does reference his positional authority, he does not speak to the Thessalonians from his position as apostle-pastor. Instead, he makes his appeal from their shared relationship. Yes, Paul had the God-given authority to lead this people, but he had something equally essential: he had relational authority with them, an authority that flowed from his pastor’s heart. The people felt, trusted, and followed him because of his pastor’s heart. Paul did not only do the work of a pastor; he was a pastor. And because God has formed His people with a need for a pastor (See Matthew 9.36), the Thessalonians trusted and followed him when he led the way to green pastures and still waters. They were ready to follow him when their journey took them through the valley of the shadow of death.
In Paul’s example, we see why a pastor, a Psalm 23-model pastor is worthy of honor, not only during Pastor Appreciation Month, but always. Thank God for them.
Paul’s description of the Psalm 23-model pastor:
1. They do life with those whom they pastor – they are “among you.” v.7
Where many have reduced pastoring to a pulpit presentation or morphed it into organizational leadership, Paul saw the life of a pastor as one focused first on being with God and then with people. The pastor is there to rejoice and sorrow with them. To pray, and yes, to root for the local high school football team with them.
2. They are gentle – like a mother with her own small children. v.7
Paul understood that gentleness is not weakness (as the world says), but (as God says) strength under control. It is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in the life of the pastor – a fruit of that work (Gal.5.22-23). Did not the Great Good Shepherd say of Himself: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle . . . (Matthew 11.29)
3. They feel affection for those whom they lead; they are dear to the pastor. v.8
The people of God are in the heart, and so, on the mind of a pastor, tenderly held in heartbeat and thought. The pastor is fond of the people of God – they laugh, cry, dream, hope, and share life together. The church is a family of families where each one is precious to their shepherd.
4. They feed the Gospel to those whom they lead. v.8
Because the pastor loves God and the people, he or she feeds disciples what they need: the Gospel. The hireling tickles ears, but the true pastor goes for the heart, delving into and delivering the Good News of Jesus ever more deeply to people. Their immortal souls are the pastor’s concern and that means Gospel.
5. They share their lives with those whom they lead – they pull back the curtain. v.8
There are different opinions on how much of our life we should share publicly, but it is a question of degree, not whether or not to do it. Pastors are not clinicians or even spiritual superheroes , cold and removed from dispensing spiritual prescriptions in worship services, sermons, and . The pastor is a fellow traveler in the journey of following Jesus, sharing questions and answers, heartaches and breaking bread, praying, laughing, crying, dreaming, lamenting, hoping and faithing together.
6. They labor and toil – even night and day. v.9
This is no 9-to-5 job. It’s not even a job. It’s a calling, a vocation, a life. It is a matching up of who God has created us to be and what He has called us to do – 24-7, we are pastors. Yes, we must learn the way of Sabbath (not only with a day off, but as a way of life), and yes, we must work as hard at our play as we do at our work, but labor and toil enmeshed in the call Jesus has placed on our lives. We embrace it joyfully.
7. They are selfless, not wanting to be a burden to those whom they pastor. v.9
We do not want, and will not be, a burden to people who are already burdened. As shepherds, we do all we can to lift their burdens. Any demands we make of them, we do not for our sakes, but for Jesus’ sake and for theirs. Like the shepherd of Isaiah 40.11, we do not ask our sheep to carry us, but it is we who gather and carry the young, and sacrificially lead the mature (John 10).
8. The keep preaching, repeating the Gospel to them. v.9
Yes, again. Having preached the Gospel to the people of God, we preach it again and deeper, bringing it to every aspect of life. We never stop preaching the Gospel to them because we have not yet – and will never – exhausted its riches in our own lives as disciples and pastors.
9. They live devoutly, justly, blamelessly among those whom they lead. v.10
Because the power of the Gospel is at work in our hearts, our lives bear the fruit of the Gospel in our devout (deeply committed), just (righteous ), and blameless (without reproach) conduct. Living and in the Gospel, The Way of Jesus, is not a mantle we ever put on and take off, it is who we are – the Gospel presses us daily to seize and be seized by the prize.
10. They exhort, comfort, and charge every one they lead. v.11
Striving to seize and be seized by the prize, we do not burden those whom we lead with discouragement, guilt, or inattention, but raise their gaze higher to all that is possible in Jesus Christ, ever cheering them, comforting them, and coaching them forward.
11. They serve not from a position but in a relationship. v.11
In other New Testament books, Paul stands on his apostolic right to speak. But he does not do so in this case. Instead, he reminds the Thessalonians of his special relationship with them. One is reminded of his appeal to the Corinthians: “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (I Cor. 4.15). A pastor who has paid the price to earn this relationship is worthy of love and honor.
WHY?
Why do pastors live this way? What is their motivation?
That God’s children might walk worthy of God who is ever calling them to enter more deeply into His kingdom and glory, always in an ever stronger relationship with Him. v.12
Why do pastors live and lead in this way?
Because for them, it’s not about the pastor. It’s about the people. And more, it’s about the glorious King and His Kingdom.
Blessed are the people of God who have such a shepherd, a pastor in heart.
Special Note: We’re pleased to offer you our recently released book, “Pensées: A 40-Day Devotional for Pastor.” Written by a pastor of pastors, it is filled with Scripture, real life stories, and the wisdom of church leaders from throughout history – all designed to encourage, build faith, and yes, challenge.
“Pensées” is the French word for thoughts. It can also be translated reflections or meditations – poetry for the soul that not only informs, but forms.
Every day at Journey we post a devotion for our member-ministers, an inspiring “pensée” to begin their day, an encouraging or even challenging thought on which they can meditate as they go about their lives and ministries.
We hope this collection fo forty member-favourites bring inspiration and encouragement to you. May these thoughts be poetry for your soul.
You can read a sample devotional from the book by clicking on this link or you can purchase your copy by clicking here.
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