Monday, March 25, 2024

Impartial Love...

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory."
~ James 2:1 
"Brethren, you will shortly appear before an impartial God, see that ye be impartial stewards; take the same care, manifest the same love, attend with the same diligence, the poorest and weakest souls that are committed to your care, as you do the rich, the great, and honorable."  ...  "The precious and immortal souls of men are committed to us; souls, about which God hath concerned his thoughts from eternity; for the purchase of which Christ hath shed his own blood; for the winning and espousing of which to himself, he hath put you into this office; at whose hands he will also require an account of them in the great day." 
- Flavel, John, The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel, 
vol.6, The Character of a Complete Evangelical Pastor

May the Chief Shepherd gives you an impartial love and care for every precious soul under you watch this week. Blessings as you continue in such a high and holy office.

~ PJVS

Thursday, March 21, 2024

The Right Remedy...

"And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey." -- Ezekiel 3:3

In bitter days of crime, abuse, and darkness of soul, there is sweetness to found. When the morning news speaks of godless agendas and immoral conduct, there are pleasant words of which to partake. When the heartache and grief surrounds us with painful wails, there are comforting songs in which to rejoice. 

Where can we find such relief and promising words? Look to the pages of God's Holy writ and hear His counsel... "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears." (Ezekiel 3:10) There is good hope for great hurt, precious promises for pressing pains... just the right remedy for every physician of the soul to prescribe. 

My pastor friend, as you search the Scriptures you will regularly find sweet truths to nurture and feed your flock. No matter how troubling the days may be, there will always be a word from the Lord. And that word will lift them high above the storm and sooth their hearts with unspeakable joy. These are the words that are... "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb." (Psalm 19:10)
~ PJVS 

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Great Goals demand Great Sacrifices...

"Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'" - Mark 14:35-36

A young person desires to become a doctor. The path of education and internship is more than grueling. Another individual plans to become a Navy Seal. The training is more than overwhelming. Then there is an athlete that has an eye on an Olympic Gold medal. The preparation absolutely consumes their life. Great goals demand great sacrifices.

Our Lord saw the incredible cup of suffering that was ahead, and He prayed for possible deliverance. But as always, Jesus was fully committed to the will of the Father. He knew the value of our souls and our need for deliverance from sin. He went to the cross with his eyes wide open and heart surrendered. A great goal demanded a great sacrifice.

What has the Lord called you to accomplish my pastor friend? Where has he placed you in His vineyard to labor? Is the work too demanding, or have the years been too discouraging? Have you come to the place where you have experienced your own "Gethsemane"? After you have poured out your heart, may you join the Lord in the words of surrender... "Yet, not what I will, but what you will." Why should you willingly yield? Because, great goals demand great sacrifices.
~ PJVS

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Back to Basics ...

"Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”"
~ Luke 11:1

PRAYER is vital to the life of the preacher. Read the biographies, and the autobiographies of the greatest preachers throughout the centuries and you will find that this has always been the great characteristic of their lives. They were always great men of prayer, and they spent considerable time in prayer. I could quote many examples, but I must refrain as there are so many, and they are well known. These men found that this was essential, and that it became increasingly so as they went on…

… From every standpoint the minister, the preacher, must be a man of prayer. This is constantly emphasized in the Pastoral Epistles and elsewhere, and, as I say, it is confirmed abundantly in the long history of the Church, and especially in the lives of the outstanding preachers. John Wesley used to say that he thought very little of a man who did not pray four hours every day. Nothing stands out so clearly likewise in the lives of people like David Brainerd and Jonathan Edwards, Robert Murray McCheyne and a host of other saints. That is why one is so humbled as one reads the stories of such men.

BIBLE reading is essential in the preacher’s life. This is obviously something that he does every day regularly. My main advice here is: Read your Bible systematically. The danger is to read at random, and that means that one tends to be reading only one’s favorite passages. In other words, one fails to read the whole Bible. I cannot emphasize too strongly the vital importance of reading the whole Bible. I would say that all preachers should read through the whole Bible in its entirety at least once every year...

… One of the most fatal habits a preacher can ever fall into is to read his Bible simply to find texts for sermons. This is a real danger; it must be recognized and fought and resisted with all your effort. Do not read the Bible to find texts for sermons, read it because it is the food that God has provided for your soul, because it is the Word of God, because it is the means whereby you can get to know God. Read it because it is the bread of life, the manna provided for your soul’s nourishment and well-being.

~ Adapted from: Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” ~ Psalm 119:17-18

“I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.”
~ Psalm 119:46-48

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Disappointments...

“Leaders who make good choices and passionately pursue God will still be disappointed. People and projects will let you down. Don’t despair! You’re in good company among generations of Christian leaders. God is at work in all circumstances to accomplish good. 

Through disappointment you can share the sufferings of Jesus, redirect your affections, comfort others, find new direction, and refocus on the hope of heaven. Being disappointed may be a pathway to spiritual growth you didn’t expect. Disappointment keeps us from loving this world too much and helps us focus on Jesus—our eternal and present hope." 
  ~  Dr. Jeff Iorg, The Painful Side of Leadership
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." 
~ Psalm 42:11, 43:5
In seasons of success or disappointments, may you always find hope in God and praise Him who is your salvation and your God.

~ PJVS

Monday, February 19, 2024

A Glorious Triumph...

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -- Matthew 28:19-20

In 1776, General George Washington led his small and bedraggled army in a daring raid on British and Hessian troops at Trenton, New Jersey, during the American Revolution. Just prior to launching boats from McKonkey's Ferry across the Delaware River, Washington had an excerpt from Thomas Paine's inspirational pamphlet, "The Crisis" (published two days earlier), read aloud to the army. The pamphlet began: “These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

The beginning and developing years of the early church were going to be a great challenge and would certainly try the souls of believers. Before the day of march, Jesus gave a great commission and words of encouragement. The work would change people and nations for God and the Lord himself would accompany His army. While the tyranny of sin was rampant and the conflict hard, through the power of Christ, the triumph would be glorious.

Do you often feel like the battle is too great and the resources are too little? Be strong in the Lord and stand firm in the face of evil. The Lord has called you to be far more than a summer soldier or sunshine patriot. He promised to stand by your side as you set people free from the tyranny of sin through the power of His gospel. No matter how hard the conflict, keep making disciples for Jesus and the triumph will be glorious.

~ PJVS

Friday, February 16, 2024

Cultivating the Heart...

The following words of counsel from A. W. Tozer point us to the main thing... 

"Cattle are driven; sheep are led; and our Lord compares His people to sheep, not to cattle. It is especially important that Christian ministers know the law of the leader—that they can lead others only as far as they have personally gone.... 

The minister must experience what he would teach or he will find himself in the impossible position of trying to drive sheep. For this reason he should seek to cultivate his own heart before he attempts to preach to the hearts of others.... 

If he tries to bring them into a heart knowledge of truth which he has not actually experienced he will surely fail. In his frustration he may attempt to drive them; and scarcely anything is so disheartening as the sight of a vexed and confused shepherd using the lash on his bewildered flock in a vain attempt to persuade them to go on beyond the point to which he himself has attained.... 

The law of the leader tells us who are preachers that it is better to cultivate our souls than our voices.... We cannot take our people beyond where we ourselves have been, and it thus becomes vitally important that we be men of God in the last and highest sense of that term." 
- A. W. Tozer, Price of Neglect

"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." ~ 1 Peter 5:2-3

May your ministry, but mostly your heart... 
... Never stop cultivating! 

Because those who lead best, follow best,

~ PJVS 

Impartial Love...

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory." ~ James 2:1  "Brethren, ...