Shepherds After His Own Heart

The Bible presents pastors as divinely ordained gifts for God’s people (Eph 4:11–12; cf. Jer 3:15). I can say without hesitation that I have been a grateful—albeit unworthy—recipient of that gift.

Have you ever noticed what the Apostle Paul lists when he talks about the gifts that Christ bestows on his church? It isn’t programs or buildings or massive budgets; it’s people—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11). People are the gift. Christ’s care for his flock comes with faces and names. I can name several of those faces myself, and chances are, you can too. So, as we set aside the month of October to honor our pastors, I want to take a moment to think about this gift and what it asks of those of us who have received it.

When I look back on my own spiritual journey, it scares me to think about where I’d be without the faithful shepherds God placed in my life, especially at critical moments. I have witnessed the various roles a pastor has to fill in any given situation. I had one pastor sit by my hospital bed day after day, praying for my healing. Another shepherd listened empathetically as I confessed my sin and nagging doubts about my own salvation. Additionally, my faith has been strengthened under the intentional teaching of yet another trustworthy steward of souls.

I believe these edifying experiences are exactly what God has in mind when he promises, “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jer 3:15, emphasis added).

Looking back, here’s what really stands out: hardly anyone else witnessed those moments. Nobody applauded the daily hospital visits. Nobody recorded the conversations of loving assurance. That’s how pastoral ministry works, is it not? The sermon you listen to on Sunday is simply a glimpse of the hours spent in study and prayer throughout the week. Behind the handshake at the sanctuary doors are late-night phone calls, hospital waiting rooms, gravesides, counseling sessions, and countless other unrecognized moments of pastoral care. I believe your pastor has prayed for you by name more than you even realize.

God’s Word doesn’t sugarcoat how heavy the pastoral calling is. The author of Hebrews describes church leaders as those who “keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account” (Heb 13:17). Even Paul—after recounting his beatings, shipwrecks, and sleepless nights—admits, “there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:28). Our pastors carry a version of that same pressure, and it often goes unnoticed. But they don’t do it for the applause. They do it because they love Jesus, and they love the people he has entrusted to their care.

All of this leaves me with a sobering question: Have I done enough to reciprocate the tender love and care that Christ’s faithful under-shepherds have poured into me?

All of this leaves me with a sobering question: Have I done enough to reciprocate the tender love and care that Christ’s faithful under-shepherds have poured into me? Honestly, probably not. Fortunately, Scripture gives a clear picture of what this looks like. Paul asked the Thessalonians “to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thess 5:12–13). Hebrews also encourages us to obey our leaders and submit to them, so that they can care for us “with joy and not with grief” (Heb 13:17). Through loving recognition and faithful submission, we can honor our pastors well.

Caring for our pastors also includes caring for them financially. Money can be a sensitive topic, but the Bible doesn’t shy away from it, so I won’t either. Paul told the Galatians, “Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the teacher” (Gal 6:6), and he reminded young Timothy, “The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor . . . The worker is worthy of his wages” (1 Tim 5:17–18). One of the most practical ways we can free our pastors to focus on shepherding the flock is through faithful, generous giving. During a month like this one, a thoughtful gift—a handwritten note, a gift card to Chick-fil-A, a new book for their study—can speak volumes about how you think of them. This isn’t about putting a price tag on ministry; it’s about making sure the people who care for souls are cared for too.

Ultimately, my prayer is that our pastors never feel taken for granted. I pray they’d know how much their congregations love them, that they’d be overwhelmed by the gratitude of their flocks, and that they’d get to see the impact their people have on the kingdom of God. And I pray they’d feel the joy of knowing that all of it is a direct result of their humble, Spirit-empowered work “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12). Pastor Appreciation Month is a great tribute, but let’s not let it be the only time we recognize our pastors.

Our shepherds are God’s gift to us, and gifts are meant to be acknowledged. Consider this: Where would you be without the love and care of your pastors? What kind of impact have they had on your soul, your family, your faith in God? Do they know? Will you tell them?