Pastors Are People Too

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27; 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-9

Have you ever wondered what pastors do when they’re not preaching, visiting people in hospitals, or doing other pastoral things? Some people seem to think pastors study and read the Bible all the time. While pastors do study more than most people because they teach God’s Word at church, they’re really just like anybody else. Jesus continues to work in the lives of pastors and help them get to know Him better, just like He does with other Christians.

It’s easy to be awed by someone who holds a church leadership position, and we might even start to assume they’re some kind of superhuman Christian. But this isn’t the case. Pastors need Jesus just as much as we all do! Even though church leaders have what the Bible calls “an honorable position” teaching God’s Word, they are regular people (1 Timothy 3:1). They have likes, dislikes, hobbies, trials, joys, families, and friends. They have temptations, they sin, and they need forgiveness— just like the rest of us. Simply put, pastors are people too.

So, get to know your pastors if you can, and pray for them. Remember that pastors have physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational needs just like we all do. They have their own questions and doubts and temptations and times when they don’t feel connected to God. They need time to rest, and they need support and guidance and accountability from people they trust.

Even though pastors are leaders in the church, they are still part of the church. And we all need each other. So, as you pray for the pastors in your life, you can ask God to provide for their needs and help them share His love with others—including you. And you can also ask God to show you ways your whole church community, including pastors, can serve and bless each other. In this way, we get to reflect the same love Christ has shown all of us. • A. W. Smith

• What pastors do you know? What assumptions have you made about their lives?

• What are some ways you can pray for and show Jesus’s love to your pastor(s) and your whole church community? Consider taking some time to pray and write down whatever comes to mind.

• Pastors are part of the church, which the Bible sometimes calls “the body of Christ.” Each of us is a vital part of the body, and as we abide in Jesus we learn to love each other well. If you want to dig deeper, read John 15:1-17; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:25–13:13; 1 Peter 4:8-11.

“If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” 1 Timothy 3:1 (NLT)