Here’s one for the one who is called not to please the crowd

The other evening, I was sitting at a café.

Sitting at a Cafe

It was strange and awkward observing people and some things that went on and I was thinking to myself how times have changed.

Some of the things I saw did not seem to be normal. Darkness has spread, and the world has accepted it as though it is normal.

‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.’

John 1:5 (NLT)

The light must spread. We need more people to spread the light.

During the early days after I took my Baptism, I invited my office colleagues’ home for Christmas.

I was excited and looked forward to share about Jesus with them. However, I did not know how to share the gospel, nor did I know any Bible verse.

So, I got a chart paper, gift bags and some goodies. I cut the chart paper into small strips and prepared a handwritten note for each guest. I made little gift bags containing the goodies along with the handwritten note for each guest.

The note was common and said, ‘God Loves You Trust in Him.’

All my colleagues were non-Christians and each of them were so excited to receive this little encouraging message about God.

I had also bought a pair of gold earrings for the Pastor’s wife because I remembered that she had liked the ones I wore to Church one Sunday.

Since it was Christmas, I thought there could be no better time to give a Gift so I got a similar pair for her.

That Sunday, I handed the gifts to the Pastors. After handing them the gift bag I realized that the little note I had written for my office colleagues was also kept in the bag.

Gift Bag for Pastors

When the Pastors thanked me for the gift, I told the Senior Pastor that there was a little problem and narrated about how I had prepared the note for each of my colleagues and that the note had also slipped into the gift bag that I gave them. I requested that I would like to take it out.

Frankly, the moment I realized about the note in the Pastors’ gift bag, it freaked me out.

After all He was the Senior Pastor leading an International Church, sharing the Word of God, praying for people, and building their faith.

How could I say something like that to him?

Can you imagine a new, inexperienced church member saying to the Pastor “God loves you trust in Him?” I felt silly to have done something like that.

“What was written in the note?” the Pastor asked.

“God loves you trust in Him.” I answered feeling uncomfortable.

‘Don’t you touch that note.”, the Pastor said giving me a stern look.

“All the time it is we who keep telling people to have Faith, to trust God, and that He loves them but as Pastors we too need to be reminded that God loves us, we need to hear that too, don’t we?’

At that time, I was surprised and overawed at what he said, but later I realized he needed that note because a few weeks after that the Pastor faced one of the worst challenges of his life around allegations involving his personal life.

I was so new to the faith and learning about the Bible, yet the Lord used me to encourage a senior Man of God.

Jesus said “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Who carries this light and shines in the darkness?

Isn’t it the Pastors and Evangelists, and the people they teach and strengthen spiritually?

Men and women called by God to make a difference, to be the light in the darkness, to encourage people, to draw them closer to God, to help people get rid of Sin and get out of their problems.

When these men and women of God have taken on such a great responsibility, it is obvious that they would face opposition.

These are the people that are needed for Kingdom work and Kingdom work is not easy.

It calls for everything extra. Extra stamina, extra compassion for people, and extra faith to fight temptations and the enemy.

These people are constantly in battle.

Misunderstood. Overworked. Expected to be selfless, anointed.

Supposed to be graceful at all times, demonstrate wisdom, take sound decisions be engaged in Church growth, planning, implementing and manage multiple things all at once.

Expected to study the Word of God, pray, preach, teach, encourage and deal with various social as well as internal issues week after week.

All of this while not giving in to the temptation of being a crowd pleaser but remain focused on pleasing God alone.

It’s a very hard task.

No wonder, it was none other than the disciples that Jesus was concerned about falling into temptation and that’s why He kept reminding them to pray.

Paul writes in Romans 13 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. “

It is time to get serious about prayer for our Pastors and Leaders. 

It is time to pray for the light to shine so darkness has no audacity nor power over God’s people.

It is time to pray for Evangelists and those working to spread the good news of the gospel.

The light must continue to shine, darkness must be repelled.

Pray for Your Pastor, Ministry Workers and Yourself

It’s a call for couples, families, men, and women, young and old to step forward, to encourage those who have stepped in to say yes to spread the light.

The encouragement will draw more into the sheepfold and strengthen those who are pushing themselves hard.

Let us motivate them with a ‘God Loves You Trust in Him.’

They uplift others but they need to hear that too!

The light must spread. The force that spreads that light must grow!

One little note has the power to motivate people to face challenging times, to continue to serve God.

So I’m very happy to share such notes and encouragement with hundreds of others while writing one for myself as well, because when things get overwhelming I need to hear it too.

How about you?

Are you an encourager, a Pastor, a prayer warrior, a spouse, a parent, a teacher, a friend that prays for others, pointing others to Christ, helping others, if yes, write a note for yourself too, and when things get overwhelming, bring it out and read it, the one that says, ‘God Loves You. Trust in Him.’

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