READING:
One-year plan: 2 Chronicles 17-20, Acts 5:33-7:8
Two-year plan: Deuteronomy 32, Luke 5:12-26
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I wish I could say that during my years of pastoral ministry, I always focused on the things that mattered most. Perhaps I did not even realize what those things were back then, but I increasingly recognize now that preaching and prayer are to mark my life as a minister of the gospel. Of course, I prepared sermons each week; in fact, we taught three times weekly back in those days. And, I prayed as I thought I was supposed to pray—but it was more perfunctory than personal, more routine than relationship. Frankly, pastoral care and congregational leadership took most of my time.
Looking back, I now realize how much more time I should have given to preaching and prayer. I know my preaching could have been stronger, and I’ve realized my prayer could have been much more consistent and deep. I didn’t have the wisdom of the apostles who sought godly men to carry out ministry work so they could devote themselves to these two things. Perhaps that’s one reason—among many—my ministry did not see the results these unlearned and uneducated men (Acts 4:13) saw take place. My ministry saw non-believers saved, but we did not see disciples who “increased greatly in number” (Acts 6:7).
I pray my neglect is a warning to help young preachers do better than I did many years ago.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How deep is your commitment to prayer—and to preaching, if you are a pastor?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, move my heart toward You in prayer.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: 2 Chronicles 21-24, Acts 7:9-36
Two-year plan: Deuteronomy 33-34, Luke 5:27-39