“First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need. And give thanks.” Timothy 2:1 English Standard Version)
I’ll complete the sentence in the title above in a minute, but first the backstory. First, I have a T-Shirt that I got as a Christmas present when working at my last secular world job a few years ago. There is a picture of Santa Claus on the front of the grey shirt and there are red imprinted words that read, “I love it when you call me Big Poppa.” Second, being transparent, a couple of years ago I watched the movie, “Hardball” and there was a pitcher on the team who could not throw his best, almost unhittable pitched without hearing the song by Biggie Smalls, “I Love It When You Call Me Big Poppa.” Third in this backstory, a few days after that I was preparing dinner in the kitchen, and I told my Alexa Echo Dot device to play that same song. One of my radio DJ sons, heard me boss Alexa around with a commanding voice, and he informed me, “You better ask for the clean version.” That’s the one with the bad language deleted. I did exactly as he said. For real! I did!
Now, with the three-part backstory completed, I will complete the sentence in the title above. It is a phrase I have used a church when injecting humor, at just the right time. The complete title: “I Love It When You Call Me Big Pastor!” Actually, I am a humble servant of God, but I do like a laugh. The serious part of my adaptation of what I heard in the complete backstory is where I go on to say, “Put your hands in the air and be a big prayer.” Now stop it right now! Stop nodding your head up and down! Just position your head upward and be a big prayer! Pray for everyone, including pastors of churches, big and small! Yes, pray for all the pastors who will step behind the sacred podium and preach the word tomorrow morning, Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
A portion of your prayer for pastors should include petitioning the Lord to help all God’s messengers to preach the word, remembering they were called to preach and not just speak, called to edify and not to entertain, called to exalt the Lord and not extol themselves, called not to lecture in sociology, psychology, or pedagogy, but rather focus on truths derived from substance based on solid theology.
My friend, please pray for pastors all around the world today, tomorrow, and every day you fall on your knees and approach the gracious throne of God. Pray for everyone but be sure to pray for pastors.
One final note, and it pertains to you. Make it to the sanctuary tomorrow and see how God answered your prayers. See how God will speech specifically to you. I’ll be praying for you too! Be blessed!
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King