10/24/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
October is sometimes designated as “Pastor Appreciation Month.” It’s good to take some time and recognize these often unsung heroes. I say this not because I am a pastor. In fact, it normally makes me uncomfortable when I receive recognition. I’d rather work quietly in the background, be cared for, and not have a lot of fanfare. But the fact is, pastors have a difficult calling. They are working, day by day, as representatives of Jesus. They are stand-ins, if you will, for Jesus, the perfect priest described in Hebrews 7:23-28.
What kind of a priest is Jesus? He’s the one we really need. He does his priestly work forever, as the risen Lord. He is always praying for the people who come to God. He is holy, innocent, without sin himsef, unhurt by the sin of others, and exalted, raised up above even the heavens (v. 26). He never needs forgiveness for himself (v. 27). What’s more, he obtained forgiveness for our sins once and it is effective forever. Unlike our efforts to purge sins, his will never stop working. This is truly a different kind of priest.
As a pastor, my job includes delivering the words of promise that Jesus made. My job is to pray for people and remind all who believe that Jesus is also praing for them. My job is to show Jesus as the one who is holy and undefiled. My job is to point past my weakness and failings to Jesus’ perfection. He is the true priest.
Does your pastor point you to Jesus? Then he is a good pastor, worthy of thanks and praise. But let’s make sure he points to Jesus, not to himself.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
October is sometimes designated as “Pastor Appreciation Month.” It’s good to take some time and recognize these often unsung heroes. I say this not because I am a pastor. In fact, it normally makes me uncomfortable when I receive recognition. I’d rather work quietly in the background, be cared for, and not have a lot of fanfare. But the fact is, pastors have a difficult calling. They are working, day by day, as representatives of Jesus. They are stand-ins, if you will, for Jesus, the perfect priest described in Hebrews 7:23-28.
What kind of a priest is Jesus? He’s the one we really need. He does his priestly work forever, as the risen Lord. He is always praying for the people who come to God. He is holy, innocent, without sin himsef, unhurt by the sin of others, and exalted, raised up above even the heavens (v. 26). He never needs forgiveness for himself (v. 27). What’s more, he obtained forgiveness for our sins once and it is effective forever. Unlike our efforts to purge sins, his will never stop working. This is truly a different kind of priest.
As a pastor, my job includes delivering the words of promise that Jesus made. My job is to pray for people and remind all who believe that Jesus is also praing for them. My job is to show Jesus as the one who is holy and undefiled. My job is to point past my weakness and failings to Jesus’ perfection. He is the true priest.
Does your pastor point you to Jesus? Then he is a good pastor, worthy of thanks and praise. But let’s make sure he points to Jesus, not to himself.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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