The Office of Pastor

The Office of Pastor
Words of Faith 8-4-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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2 Timothy 4
[1] In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: [2] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

Several years ago, a young man made an appointment with me to discuss his thoughts about possibly "going into ministry." He was a fine fellow. Handsome and articulate. Well-educated and likable. He had a good way with words and seemed to have a sincere walk with the Lord.
As we began talking, he looked around the office where we met for a moment. It was a spacious room that some interior designers in the church had comfortably appointed. The sofas were nicely arranged for counsel and meetings. Mementos of various ministry victories decorated the room. He suddenly said, "Yeah... I think I could do this."
It was an interesting comment. The first focus of this young man seemed to be that he liked the décor and comfort of the office. I was quickly reminded that many who endeavor to answer a "call" do not readily grasp the gravity of the journey they are beginning or what it will require to finish. That is what this passage is about.
This passage is a famous one. It is often preached at ordination services. The passage speaks soberly about the charge that comes with "the office." Of course, the "office of the pastor" is not a physical room. It is a spiritual "space" of honor, responsibility, and profound gravity that often carries heavy burdens.
Paul concluded his short letter to Timothy with a straightforward "charge" regarding this "office." He reminded him that the pastoral office was a call God had placed upon Timothy. It would be difficult to see how Paul could have made his charge to Timothy any more weighty. He called upon Timothy, not only in the name of God and of Christ, but in the light of the coming judgment, Christ's return, and the establishment of His millennial kingdom! That is huge!
Paul's point was not suggesting that the weight of these events was upon the shoulders of this young pastor. But Paul wanted Timothy to grasp the eternal immensity of his calling. He gives us a sobering sense of what is at stake when we respond to the beckoning of the Holy Spirit to minister among God's people.
Tomorrow we will talk more about the actual task of such ministry. Today we do not want to miss the gravity with which this charge was given.
You may wonder how I responded to the young man in my office. Those who know me recognize that I have a gentle way of relating personally as a pastor. I think the Apostle Paul might have "lit into him." But my response was to lovingly help the young man to see that the comforts of this room were not what the office or the calling was about.
I didn't use the massive images of Christ, the judgment, and the millennial kingdom. But I was helping him understand that you don't start or hang out in this room. In ministry today, you begin stacking chairs, changing light bulbs, and plunging toilets. Any minister will tell you that. You start out serving in humble ways no matter where you are. And the room you end up sitting in, if you ever get a chance to sit, is different from the goal or the focus.
Interestingly, he has yet to come back for a second appointment. We never got to the more significant charge of what it means to minister the Word of God among God's people. My intent was not to be discouraging but definitely to be clear. And it was a good reminder for me as well.

Father God, help me to understand the gravity and nature of Your call upon my life. No matter where your ministry may lead, help me to walk in humility as I seek to serve You and proclaim the wonders of Your grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.