The Audience of One
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
FOCUS
Have you ever noted how divided our pastoral focus can become? We pay attention to so many things but firmly fix our gaze on only a few, maybe none at all. As a result, it’s off to races, running here and there, taking care of this project and propping up that program, putting out a wildfire, and restarting a needed fire that went out. At the end of a chaotic day, we lay our heads on the pillow, not just exhausted but without rest. We’ve chased the to-do list and its commands all day long but satisfied none. Least of all, ourselves. Too many tasks. Too little time. Too many masters.
One of my daughters was in high school and college theatre. She was an exceptionally talented actress. In one role, she so immersed herself in her stage character that I didn’t recognize her, though she was feet away from me. Her success in her performance was not in the camouflage of heavy make-up or costuming but in her ability to become the character in essence.
The keys? There were two. First, in preparing and performing, she did not focus on pleasing the hundreds of people who would see her and judge her according to their expectations. Instead, she focused her full attention on immersing herself in the character the writer-director had created.
Second, once she was fully immersed in the heart and head of the character, she focused her attention on the writer-director and his instructions in rehearsals as she worked to bring that character to life. She focused on being the character the writer-director had written, knowing that the doing would naturally flow from this. Yes, an audience was in the seats, but meeting its expectations was not her focus. Her focus was on the writer-director and satisfying him. Performing before hundreds, she had an audience of only one. Only one. At the end of each performance, she had the applause of her grateful audience. But more significant to her, she had the “well done” of her proud writer-director.
Pastor, our first focus is being conformed to the character of Jesus. This happens as we daily invite the Holy Spirit to transform us through the Script(ures). Focused on being conformed to the character of Jesus, we focus our full attention on Him, the Writer-Director, intent on following His instructions.
Yes, we know people are watching as we play our part. But our motivation does not come from them or meeting their expectations. Our motivation is single-minded: living in and honoring God, the Creator-Writer of our life’s story. We know that as we focus on being conformed to the character of Christ, the doing will naturally follow. “Performing” before hundreds or a handful, we have an audience of only one. At the end of each sermon, Sunday, or even a lifetime of service, we may have the appreciation of a grateful congregation. But more importantly, we will have the “well done” of our proud Writer-Director. Our audience of One.
“True success for the pastor is a life focused on The Audience of One. It is to live as concentrated on God as a young man who, down on one knee, has only one desire and question for the one earthly love of his life.”
Le Prédicateur
Editor’s Note: The above article is from Pensées: A 40-Day Devotional for Pastors, a Journey Pastoral Coaching Resource, written by a pastor of pastors with more than 40 years of pastoral experience. It’s a resource that would make a great gift for your pastor or your pastoral staff this October during Pastor Appreciation Month.
You can purchase your copy or copies at your favorite online bookseller, or, to invest in the ministry of Journey, click on this link.
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