Today I thought I would share a passage with you from a book I am reading. As some of you may know, I meet with a group of Pastors every two weeks for a time of fellowship, prayer and discussion that will strengthen us in our calling. Currently we are reading "Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically" by John MacArthur.
The following comes from page 14 of the book and it is attributed to an anonymous writer. These words speak to the heart of a Pastor's calling.
"Stick with your work. Do not flinch because the lion roars; do not stop to stone the devil's dogs; do not fool away your time chasing the devil's rabbits. Do your work. Let liars lie, let sectarians quarrel, let critics malign, let enemies accuse, let the devil do his worst; but see to it nothing hinders you from fulfilling with joy the work God has given you.
He has not commanded you to be admired or esteemed. He has never bidden you defend your character. He has not set you at work to contradict falsehood (about yourself) which Satan's or God's servants may start to peddle, or to track down every rumor that threatens your reputation. If you do these things, you will do nothing else; you will be at work for yourself and not for the Lord.
Keep at your work. Let your aim be steady as a star. You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded and rejected, misunderstood, or assigned impure motives; you may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends, and despised and rejected of men. But see to it with steadfast determination, with unfaltering zeal, that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being until at last you can say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do."
Those words energize, equip and encourage me!
I am thankful for the work God has given me to do at Everett Springs Baptist,
Pastor Mike
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