Philippians 1:7 - A Pastor's Heart

Todaywe are focusing on verse 7, where we see a pastor’s heart: “Just asit is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart,inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of thegospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.” TheApostle Paul was once a persecutor—a zealous persecutor—of the church. You readabout this in Acts chapters 7-8. He was standing there when Stephen was beingstoned to death, holding the garments of those who carried it out. My friend,Paul hated Christians. At that time, he was known as Saul. But somethinghappened on the road to Damascus when he met Jesus, and everything changed. Rememberwhen Jesus met him on that road. When Saul asked, “Who are You?” Jesusanswered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” So Saul was not justpersecuting believers—he was persecuting Jesus Himself. Later,when Paul gave his testimony before Agrippa in Acts 26. In verse 10 he said, “ThisI also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints I shut up in prison, havingreceived authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, Icast my vote against them.” Then notice verse 11: “And I punished themoften in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedinglyenraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Paul oncehated Christians, but everything changed when he met Jesus, and his heart wastransformed. Afterhis conversion, Paul became a Bible teacher in the church at Antioch of Syria.From there, he was sent out as a missionary. He became a church planter. Butmost of all, he was a pastor—and he had a pastor’s heart. That is what heexpresses here: “It is right for me to think this of you all, because I haveyou in my heart.” What a beautiful expression. Paul is not just writingtheology—he is expressing love. This is the heart of a pastor speaking topeople he deeply cares about: “Just as it is right for me to think this ofyou all, because I have you in my heart”. Remember,Paul is sitting in prison, in chains, possibly facing execution, and yet he isthinking of others. That is what he means when he says, “I have you in myheart.” This is what real spiritual leadership looks like. It is notdistant. It is not cold. It is not merely instructional. Because people do notcare what you say to them until they know that you care about them. Itis sad, over the years, when I hear people say, “My pastor does not even knowmy name. My pastor does not really care about me. He knows nothing about myfamily or my life. My pastor never really shows up. He is a good teacher, agood preacher—he does all these good things—but he has no idea what is going onin my life.” You see, being a pastor is relational. Paul did not just preach tothese people—he loved them. And this works both ways. A real pastor loves hispeople, and a real church loves their pastor. That is what makes for a healthychurch. Ilive here in Sneads Ferry, where I meet with pastors from various churchesevery Tuesday morning for prayer. I can tell you one thing about these pastorshere in Sneads Ferry: they love their people. They pray for their people. Theyserve their people. They go out of their way and make sacrifices for them. Itis a wonderful thing to watch and be a part of.  Bythe way, we are having a Easter Sunrise service at Onslow County Beach Access #2, on North Topsail Beach this Sunday morning at 6:30. If you live in the area,we would love for you to attend this beautiful sunrise service with us.  Godbless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!