Why is it important for a pastor to take heed to his own life and walk with the Lord? Why spend so much time in maturing as a follower of Christ? Why should a pastor see himself as ever dependent upon the Holy Spirit to live his life well to the glory of God?
Motives for Oversight of Oneself:
1. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for many can be tempted to preach powerful sermons of Christ to the congregation and yet neglect Him; of the Holy Spirit and yet resist Him; of faith and yet remain in unbelief; of repentance and yet continue in an unconverted state; of a heavenly life and yet reek of this earthly lust.
2. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for you have a depraved and sinful nature just as those who are under your leadership. In us all there are remnants of pride, unbelief, self-seeking, hypocrisy and the most hateful, deadly sins.
3. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for the tempter will tempt you more than other men. He has before tried to fight the shepherd that he may scatter and divide the flock. His ways are deceptive and cunning – never think you have outwitted him.
4. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for there are many eyes on you and many there will be to observe your falls. “The eclipses of the sun by day are seldom without witnesses.” And think this not a vice, but rather a great mercy given that you have so many eyes watching over you and so many ready to tell you of your faults.
5. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for your sins have greater “heinous aggravations” than others – you typically have more knowledge, so you are held more accountable; your sins have more hypocrisy in them; how oft have you preached against such a sin as you have entertained in your heart
6. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for such a great work as you have to perform requires more grace than others’ require. You have a difficult and taxing (yet rewarding) work to do for the glory of God and the good of your people.
7. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for the honor of your Lord and Master is your command. Seek diligently to rely upon his sustaining grace for such a task!
Motives for Oversight of Oneself:
1. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for many can be tempted to preach powerful sermons of Christ to the congregation and yet neglect Him; of the Holy Spirit and yet resist Him; of faith and yet remain in unbelief; of repentance and yet continue in an unconverted state; of a heavenly life and yet reek of this earthly lust.
2. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for you have a depraved and sinful nature just as those who are under your leadership. In us all there are remnants of pride, unbelief, self-seeking, hypocrisy and the most hateful, deadly sins.
3. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for the tempter will tempt you more than other men. He has before tried to fight the shepherd that he may scatter and divide the flock. His ways are deceptive and cunning – never think you have outwitted him.
4. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for there are many eyes on you and many there will be to observe your falls. “The eclipses of the sun by day are seldom without witnesses.” And think this not a vice, but rather a great mercy given that you have so many eyes watching over you and so many ready to tell you of your faults.
5. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for your sins have greater “heinous aggravations” than others – you typically have more knowledge, so you are held more accountable; your sins have more hypocrisy in them; how oft have you preached against such a sin as you have entertained in your heart
6. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for such a great work as you have to perform requires more grace than others’ require. You have a difficult and taxing (yet rewarding) work to do for the glory of God and the good of your people.
7. Pastors – take heed to yourself, for the honor of your Lord and Master is your command. Seek diligently to rely upon his sustaining grace for such a task!
May you not be a pastor who unsays with his life what he says with his tongue, nor a pastor who studies hard to preach exactly yet studies little to live exactly (63-64).
0 comments:
Post a Comment