Today's Reading: Acts 20:27-38
Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 15:10-35; Acts 24:24-25:12
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. St. Paul said those words to the pastors of the Ephesian churches before he left them. Pastors are supposed to watch out for themselves and the flocks they are called by Christ to shepherd. That means they aren't supposed to preach or teach anything that isn't God's Word and they shouldn't do anything that will take our attention from Christ and His gifts.
Your pastor has an important job! Elsewhere St. Paul told Timothy to pay attention to the teaching of Christ so that he would save himself and his hearers (1 Timothy 4:16). That means that what your pastor preaches matters!
It matters whether your pastor preaches Christ faithfully or just tries to make people feel good. It matters whether your pastor picks hymns that might be hard to sing, but that teach you God's Word and about Christ, rather than songs that just make you feel good when you sing them. It matters whether your pastor teaches the Catechism faithfully and instructs you in everything that Jesus taught or that he just wants to play games and be silly, teaching you that the faith is not serious business. All of this matters. It matters because nonsense and silliness won't save you. Christ's Word and Sacraments save you.
As God's people, we ought to be praying for our pastors. Do you pray for your pastor? You should. You should pray that the Lord will help him to stand strong against the temptations to be likable and popular instead of faithful. You should pray for him, that he will grow in God's Word so that he will be an ever more faithful preacher and teacher. You should pray for your pastor so that he will faithfully shepherd the flock Jesus has called him to serve.
Christ gives you a pastor for YOUR benefit, so that you will hear Christ's Word and believe. A pastor calls you to repentance and comfort you with Christ's forgiveness. Your shepherd is a gift from the Good Shepherd! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
You, O Lord, Yourself have called him For Your precious lambs to care; But to prosper in his calling, He the Spirit's gifts must share. Give him wisdom from above, Fill his heart with holy love; In his weakness, Lord, be near him, In his prayers, Good Shepherd, hear him. (LSB 681:2)