20 Dec January 22nd Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

A MODEL FOR PASTORS – Part I

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 “You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition.”

The people of a community are not always positively receptive to the message of God’s Word of Law and Gospel.  The sinners of the world especially do not appreciate God’s Law that tells them of their sins and His condemnation of them.  Christian pastors have faced “strong opposition” (today’s devotional verse) to the preaching and teaching of God’s word.  St. Paul endured personal persecution as a result of his faithful preaching and teaching of the Holy Scriptures.

In spite of the opposition that St. Paul experienced, he wrote “ . . . we dared to tell you His gospel . . .”  This is what you should expect of your pastor.  The message of God’s word is not always what you or your  fellow members of your congregation want to hear.  The message of God’s word is certainly not what some in your community want to hear.  However, because the entirety of the Bible is God’s Word, and His Word is truth (John 17:17) your pastor, to be faithful to his calling and to Almighty God, must preach and teach it as it is found in the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

Even in the face of strong opposition, your pastor knows that he must preach and teach God’s Law because it is only through the Law that his audience will know they are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.  Once he has delivered God’s Law to his listeners and there is an indication his hearers recognize and acknowledge their sins and need for forgiveness, then, he must speak the Good News of God’s love for sinners and desire to forgive them their sins.  And, of course, he needs to share that God sent His Son Jesus, as John the Baptist proclaimed, “to take away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)  In spite that not all want to hear about their sins and not all want to believe that the only way to receive forgiveness is through faith in Jesus Christ, this is the message your pastor must deliver.  Support him by praying God to give him faith and strength to speak this message even in the face of strong opposition.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, fill my pastor with the Law and the Gospel and courage to speak it and then bless what he proclaims that sinners believe what he says.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Spread the reign of God the Lord, Spoken, written, mighty Word;

Ev’rywhere His creatures call To His heav’nly banquet hall.

Tell how God the Father’s will Made the world, upholds it still,

How His own dear Son He gave Us from sin and death to save.

Tell of our Redeemer’s grace, Who, to save our human race

And to pay rebellion’s price, Gave Himself as sacrifice.

Tell of God the Spirit giv’n Now to guide us on to heav’n.

Strong and holy, just and true, Working both to will and do.

Enter, mighty Word, the field; Ripe the promise of its yield.

But the reapers, oh, how few For the work there is to do!

Lord of harvest, great and kind, Rouse to action heart and mind;

Let the gath’ring nations all See Your light and heed Your call.

(LSB 830)