"Remember Them"

(For the Pastors)    

I do not know most of your pastors.  I do, however, know something about them.  In this day, and in every day, they will be savagely attacked by spiritual enemies who seek to hinder God's light from shining forth in their hearts and through their ministries.    

"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word ofGod" (Hebrews 13:7).   

The attacks will most often be quiet and behind the scenes.  Indeed, you will never know theyhave occurred.  Temptations to discouragement, distraction, deception, and even despair will be foisted upon your pastors by malevolent influences who seek to harm you by harming them.  "They watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).  Thus, we must "remember them," which by Biblical definition involves much more than simply recollection.  We must pray forpastors, first with request for their personal walk with the Lord, and then for theirprotection from the enemies who seek their destruction. Moreover, as we pray, we offer ourselves to our Heavenly Father for pastors, that we mightbe and do for them whatever He would have us to be and to do.     

This consideration leads me to pray for the many pastors who receive these devotionals, and for the pastors of all of you who also receive them.  I would seek to "remember them" in this day and in every day, again, being aware that Satan and his minions surely do not forget them.  I know you join me in this intercession, and in the offering of ourselves to God for pastors.  Indeed, we do well to thank God for them, to seek God for them, and realize our privileged responsibility of forming, as it were, a ring of spiritual protection around them.  Yes, in this and in every day, your pastors will be savagely attacked.  May it therefore be far more true in this and in every day that they will be spiritually guarded by our prayers and the offering of ourselves to God for these watchers for our souls.

"I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15)

"He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12)