PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Mar
15
15
Simple, but Perfect
Tim Savage
Scripture
9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6
Observation
There are so many important lessons in today’s reading and many jumped out at me, but ultimately it was the simplest lesson that moved me the most. It’s not unusual to get tired in ministry. Doing God’s work does not absolve us from weariness. Often we run hard, often we run long, sometimes we run hard and long. It’s only natural to get tired along the way, even if we don’t want to admit it. A very important lesson I’ve learned along the way is that we are all responsible for ourselves when it comes to weariness. It’s almost impossible for others, our co-laborers, or even our ministry leaders, to know when we are burning out. Often we are all so focused on our part of the ministry we have a hard time noticing what another might be going through. It’s also difficult for others to see just how hard you’ve been running, but we want them to notice and give us permission to slow down. Instead of waiting for others to give us permission, we must regulate ourselves. We have to take responsibility and care for ourselves before we burnout and not wait for someone else to dive in and save us.
Application
I believe that God doesn’t want us to burnout and disqualify ourselves from ministry. I believe that God wants us in it for the long haul. I have made the mistake of hoping someone would notice my situation and tell me to slow down. Instead of putting that burden on others I need to stay close to Jesus and be responsible to self-regulate, which leads me back to my verse today: I must keep up the good fight, I must be vigilant over my heart and mind to keep myself in the game. Sometimes that means I need to step back and slow down in order that I may continue the race for the long term. Then, rewards will come and God will provide in His perfect timing.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for this simple, but perfect, lesson, at just the right time. In Jesus name,Amen
