THE PROMISES ARE FOR PASTORS TOO!

The works of His hands are verity and justice;

All His precepts are sure. 

They stand fast forever and ever,

And are done in truth and uprightness. 

He has sent redemption to His people;

He has commanded His covenant forever:

Holy and awesome is His name.  (Psalm 111:7-9)

How often pastors have sought to lift the downcast with the assurances of God’s promises and reminders of the faithfulness of His love.  We open our Bibles and read to the suffering and sorrowing those eternal truths, to give them an anchor of hope in their present storm.  It would be well if we preached the same sermon to ourselves!  When the difficult seasons of plowing hard ground have come, as weeds seem to grow, but believers do not, and when the sun turns the soil to dust and tender ones wither, let us remain steadfast in our confidence.  God has promised to bless His Word.  He commands, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  (Gal.6:9)  The promises are for pastors, too! 

There were times that people forgot all that Moses had done for them, rebelled against him—even wanted to kill him.  David’s own wife ridiculed his exuberance in worship.  Elijah had to be reminded that conditions were not as dire as he thought; there were more following the Lord than he supposed.  Jeremiah saw little positive response to his preaching, but much hostility, yet, he was God’s man for the hour.  Ezekiel had a congregation of skeletons in a graveyard, but God worked through his sermon to raise the dead.  John the Baptist saw diminishing crowds, and in the end lost his head over his sermon, but Jesus commended him for his greatness.  People will be fickle; God will be faithful.

I am preaching to myself when I say, “Pastor, trust the promises of God.  His character is immutable when our popularity with people may change with the weather.  Look to His Word, and do not be a hypocrite in offering its counsel to others, but disdaining it yourself.  Trust Him and do not let discouragement diminish your service.”

Can I get an amen?