Being a local church pastor is not for the faint of heart nor for those lacking perseverance. It is a position that requires great patience and endurance. The results of your ministry are not instantly seen. You don’t see the “fruit of your labors” for years, even decades. You have to settle in for the long haul, and you must have the conviction that the knowledge and application of the Word of God is God’s method of building His people.
This helpful, strengthening statement from Dr. John MacArthur really encourages me in my ministry:
Show me a church where there is strong Bible teaching over an enduring period of time, and I will show you a congregation that is studying the Word of God on their own, skilled in the science of interpretation that has been modeled for them by their pastor. But show me a church where the Word of God is not taught in the pulpit, and I’ll show you a place where biblical illiteracy, doctrinal confusion, and spiritual apathy at the personal level is rampant. The people will not rise to a level that is higher than their teacher. They will follow the example of their leaders. So, if we love God’s Word, our people will too. If we don’t, they won’t either.
It is my great desire, my great hope and my prayer that the fruit of my ministry will be people who love the Word of God. Make it so, Lord!
Enjoyed the article. In agreement, settling in for the long haul.