My friend said the comment made her think less of him, but I disagreed. When I heard my his admission, it gave me hope.
It gave me hope because I know my pastor is a godly man. That he loves Jesus and has dedicated his life to loving and serving Christ and his church. I know he’s a man of prayer. That he’s faithful to his wife. That he seeks to do what’s right.
Because I’ve seen how God has used him and watched his relationship with the Lord grow, when he revealed his struggle to read God’s Word daily, it showed me that I’m not the only one who struggles with consistency.
When I see how God has used my pastor, despite his inconsistencies and failures, it gives me hope that God will use me as well.
Don’t get me wrong, a pastor should read his Bible every day, not because he’s a pastor, but because he’s a Christian. The Word of God is our help, strength, and teacher, and we should never neglect it. This isn’t the issue, however. The issue is that as long as we live, our spiritual nature will war with our sinful nature to do what’s right.
Paul expresses the struggle in Romans 7:21-23:
“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.”
I led a homeschool support group for many years. As our leadership planned meetings, we quickly discovered that it wasn’t the speakers with the perfect homeschooling track records whose messages resonated with our ladies. It was the ones who had slogged their way through the trenches and overcame significant obstacles who really made an impact on our group.
Hearing the stories of other believers I respect who struggle and succeed gives me hope that even though I struggle in one area or another, I, too, will succeed. That God will use me—not despite my struggles, but because of my struggles.
I’m thankful that Jesus, our ultimate example, was not a high priest who couldn’t be touched with our failures and frailties. Although he was the perfect Godman, he knew what it was like to struggle.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every
way, just as we are-- yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
“Let us then,” the writer of Hebrews exhorts, “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (v. 16).
My pastor sometimes struggles to read his Bible every day. So do I.
God is using him in mighty ways to share the love of God with a dark and dying world. I hope God will use me, too.
Because it’s not perfection God desires, it’s desire that God perfects.
What about you? Are you struggling in some area of your Christian life? Does it help you to know others are also struggling? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Winston (and his family) would like to thank all of you who prayed and sent well wishes (and get well bones). He's recuperating nicely despite losing a toe during his operation. The pathology report came back clear, and he's looking forward to chasing squirrels again very soon.
I'll be leading a DEVOTION WRITING WORKSHOP in Columbia Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9-12
New Testament Baptist Church, 300 Sims Ave.
Registration is required. $25/person. Contact dianna@mcwhirterlaw.com
For more information on the writing workshop, CLICK HERE.
Learn how God can use your life experiences, spiritual insights, and unique perspective to impart spiritual truth to others. Learn how to connect your life lessons to God’s word in a way readers can easily understand in this fun and dynamic writing workshop.
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Good points, Lori. And I think more of your pastor for admitting his struggle. I wonder how many pastors have quit struggling and just don't read their Bibles but never admit it. His admission makes him more accountable. Glad Winston is doing well.
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