One of the things that makes church leadership unique is the fact that our ultimate Leader is Jesus. As He says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” So, unlike the CEO of a corporation or the executive director of a nonprofit, to be the pastor of a church is to be an under-shepherd. Jesus takes the lead, and it is our job to follow Him, the Chief Shepherd. That requires a lot less drivenness and a whole lot more waiting upon the Lord.
In Acts 8, we see Jesus leading the early church in surprising ways. Persecution breaks out and the church is scattered. The Samaritans—a group that had splintered off from Israel to much animosity—shockingly respond to the Gospel. And an ambitious magician tries to buy control of the Holy Spirit. All of this is utterly unexpected and quite disorienting. Yet Jesus is in it all, working His perfect plan. In His hands, the results are actually astounding!
In both the confusion and uncertainty of our times, and in the pain and frustrations of our own lives, may we learn to trust our Lord as He leads and guides us forward. May we learn to wait on the Lord with patience. He’s on the job. And may we learn to trust, even in our doubts, that we are loved, more than we know.
