Make Your Pastor Joyful For Shepherding You

“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” — Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Because the shepherding ministry is very rare in recent times, many Christians who are being discipled don’t know the labour involved in raising mighty people of faith. They come to church anyhow, skip some meeting times and do all kinds of evil things against others without accepting corrections or being accountable to anyone.

Many pastors are grieved daily for serving in the Church, not because God called them, but because of the bad attitudes of some congregants. I’ve had my fair share of this. But later, I found strength in God, who told me never to draw encouragement from the attitude of anyone under my spiritual watch. Look at what the writer of Hebrews counselled members in the body of Christ in Hebrews 13:17.

He, which I suppose it’d be Paul, said that in order to make your pastor joyful for shepherding you, obey and be submissive to him. But why is it so important? Here’s the point.

You ease the pressure and burden on your shepherd’s (pastor’s) mind when you obey his teachings of Jesus Christ and become submissive to the spiritual instructions that he gives you. Shepherding souls in Christ isn’t the kind of work a pastor can merely become happy with when he gets paid. No! Every pastor who’s after God’s heart thinks about the well-being of the Lord’s sheep under their care far more than how much the organisation pays him.

Just as you grieve the Holy Spirit when you disobey God, don’t grieve your God-given pastor by disregarding his teaching that exemplifies the Word of God. This warning is for your own safety in life.

You’re a blessing.

Prayer

Father, I pray in the name of Jesus, make me submissive and obedient to those You’ve appointed to be the watchers of my soul in Christ. Give them joy as they do your work; so that I’d not be a hindrance to their spiritual sanity. In the name of Jesus. Amen!

Devotional Code: KGD – 2023 – 157