My Dear Shepherds,

We attended an ordination recently. The two-hour service was rich with Scripture, blessings, vows, and Communion. A whole platoon of pastors attended to lend their support. I wonder what it would’ve been like if, at some point, we had each stood to give this new colleague a heads-up as to some of the particulars entrusted to us all.

“Sunday comes every four days,” says one minister with dark circles under his eyes. “You’ll be surprised how easy it is to put off prayer,” warns another. “But don’t!” “Love on the old people.” “Go to games and graduations if you can.” “Put your mind and heart into your preaching! Your people must hear what God says.”

The first thing Paul warned Timothy about in his letter was the danger of those whose teaching was “contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel . . . which he entrusted to me.” That prompted Paul to reflect on his own calling:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. (1 Tim. 1:12)

No sensible Christian ever takes for granted the wonder of God’s call. There is the who me?! of God’s salvation, freely given to anyone who trusts in Jesus, without reference to our past or our potential. “’Tis mercy all, immense and free!” Then there is the who me?! of our calling as pastors, because knowing ourselves, we wonder if we will live up to the trust he puts in us.

I wouldn’t assume that the Lord considered me as trustworthy as Paul, but I do see myself more at home among the many other shepherds Paul mentioned—Timothy, Titus, Epaphras, Epaphroditus, Priscilla and Aquilla. And then there was John Mark who at one point “deserted them” but then was welcomed back “because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” But there was also Demas, whose love for the world disqualified him from the ministry entrusted to him.

We know well what it means to put our trust in God, but here’s the amazing thing: God put his trust in us when he made us his Wordworkers (Eph. 4:11), “to equip his people for works of service . . ..” In the phrase, “he considered me trustworthy,” the word considered carries the sense “to lead out before the mind.” God looks over that upward bound procession of believers and sees in some of us what we ourselves would never see. I will entrust this one with the gospel and with my people.

God isn’t blind, of course. He’s not naively optimistic about those he entrusts with the shepherd’s staff. There will always be false teachers and shepherds seduced by love for the world. But most of us rise to the trust God puts in us. We are better Christians for having been called to the ministry. As Paul said of deacons, “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 3:13).

So during Pastor Appreciating Month, thank Christ Jesus for all he’s entrusted to you. Give thanks that when we teach the Bible, “we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” Thank him that your people recognize you as their God-given shepherd. Thank him that when you visit them in their guilt, suffering, or grief, they sense more easily that the Lord himself is with them. Thank him that he answers your prayers as their pastor for their perseverance, fruit, or love for one another. Thank him that he considers you, dear pastor, to be trustworthy.

Be ye glad!

Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today.