Dear Fellow Children of God,
Yesterday I was asked by a new friend, “Do you enjoy
being a Pastor?” I didn’t just answer
immediately. But, I knew my answer, and
as I thought about the question I answered, “Yes.” I do enjoy responding to the call of God and
serving His people.
Then this new friend asked me, “What about being a pastor
do you enjoy most?” That was a tougher
question. I enjoy preaching and
teaching. I enjoy personal time with
people in their homes, or in the office, or in restaurants talking about God’s
love in our lives. I enjoy planning
ministry. I thought for a moment about
what I do enjoy most. After a short period I answered, “I really
enjoy making a difference for good in someone’s life with God’s love.”
But, it is not
just pastors who can help another individual.
Every person can reach out in kindness to others. In fact, every Christian can share with others
the love they have received from God.
St. Paul even says that is part of the purpose we have as
Christians. “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
received from God.” (2 Corinthians
1:3-4) There are many, many calls and encouragements in Scripture, commands even,
to love others. But this verse tells us we
all have been equipped, by the troubles and trials we have faced, to help
others.
There is just one “fly in the ointment.” While God’s children are equipped to help and
often want to help others, sometimes all of us feel funny about asking for or
receiving help. We like to feel
strong. We can be ashamed of our
problems. We all, even pastors, often hide
our pain. We hide our pain or troubles from
God, which is foolish because God knows everything. We hide our pain and troubles from others,
which can also be foolish, because God has created people to live in
relationship with others. We are created
to “carry one another’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)
A week ago, after visiting with someone who
was going through some medical trials, and then praying with them, this person asked
me, “How are you doing, Pastor?” I admit to being a little hesitant to
share. I like to help others. Being helped is something else.
Why is
it that we don’t like to admit troubles and, therefore, we sometimes won’t
accept help? After all, we are all
sinners. We have all rebelled against God’s law. We have all hurt others. We have all acted in selfishness. We all need the forgiveness and saving of
God’s Savior, Jesus. If we know this,
why do we struggle to admit our pain
and accept help from others?
I have been at a Stephen Ministry
training conference, with St. John Stephen Ministers Lisa Jenson and Cathy
Grosz, since Sunday night. The
conference ends Saturday. We have all
learned not only how we can reach out to share God’s love and presence with
others who are hurting, but we have also learned how we are wounded and broken
ourselves. We all need the care, the
listening, and the help which others can give.
And, because we have suffered troubles, we are prepared to help others
with the love and forgiveness God has given us.
Let me encourage you to love and help
one another. But, let me also encourage
you to know your struggles and let your Christian brothers and sisters bless
you with the love God has shown them.
That is part of God’s plan for sharing His love in this world.
A Child of God, learning to accept help as well as give
help,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. When we
return from Stephen Ministry training, we will recruit new Stephen Ministers
for a class starting in October. If you
are interested in learning more about Stephen Ministry, please speak to Lisa or
Cathy, or one of our other Stephen Ministers.
Also, if someone asks if you would like a Stephen
Minister to listen and care and serve as a Christian friend, please say “Yes.”
****
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me
know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if
you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me
their e-mail address.
******
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