A Devotional Thought From Numbers

Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldst say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the suckling child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?     Numbers 11:12

                As a pastor I view Moses’  question as indicating a significant portion of the pastor’s ministry to the people of his congregation and fellowship. Look at the picture of a father with a newborn child. Pastor, view yourself as the father, and carry your parishioners as though they were the new borns. Bear them in your arms, put up with their needs, supply what they cry for, get them to where they are supposed to be.

                Paul says a similar thing: But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth  her children: so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us (1 Thessalonians 2:7,8). We cherish you the nurse (pastor) says to the children. We poured our affection upon you. You know we cared, we loved, we shared the gospel of God.

                My thinking is that the pastor like the loving parent meets the need of the child (parishioner) lovingly; washing, feeding, caring, putting up with, sharing real truth in love.

How great it would be if those putting reviews on the Internet about your church would say, “The people at that church love you, whoever you are, because that’s what their pastor is like.”

                It’s an old saying, I think, sometimes for good, sometimes not, “Like pastor like people.” Pastors with the callings of Moses and Paul will do the church real good.