Your Pastor's Complete Joy

 "make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Phil. 2:2

Pastors are special people.  They give of themselves all day long and twice on Sunday.  They tirelessly work for the kingdom, count the cost, lay down their lives and, bless em, shepherd us pitiful lambs.  I am fortunate to have a pretty great Pastor...one who exemplifies all of the above mentioned things.  I praise and thank God every day that He has raised up this man for such a time as this.  Pastor J wouldn't want the praise directed anywhere but back to the Lord, exactly where it should go.  So...praise be to God for working through him to reach this body and county for Christ!

Have you ever thought about what truly makes your Pastor's joy complete?  I gotta say, I hadn't until I studied this passage of Philippians.  What really lights a fire in his heart regarding the body of believers he leads?

Paul was a pastor/shephard to a LOT of people.  He traveled all over the middle east and beyond telling people of God's grace.  He tells us in this chapter what makes him smile ear to ear.  

When we as the body submit ourselves to the call of God and work together, not only is our earthly shepherd pleased but more so is our Heavenly Shepherd.  They love nothing more than to see us of the same mind, loving others, united in Spirit and intently working together toward the purpose of advancing the Kingdom.  

Paul tells us exactly how to do this: by taking Christ's attitude (vs. 5)

Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, emptied himself of all entitlement and became a bond servant for us.  A bond servant voluntarily gives up his freedom to become a slave.  We too must voluntarily give up our entitlement issues, our pride, our preferences and humble ourselves to serve each other.  AND...we are to do all this without grumbling or arguing (vs. 14).  

Why?
Why should we give up what WE want for others?
Why should we be unified?

-To show the world Jesus.
-So we will be blameless and innocent before the people who want nothing more to point a finger at Christ followers in accusation (vs. 15).  Ever heard the comment, "Why should I go to church?  They back stab each other worse than anyone I know?"  I have and it breaks my heart.
-We are the light to them.  To show how God's people are to treat each other and those around them. (vs. 15)
-So our pastors know that what they work so hard to accomplish is not done in vain (vs. 16).  Pastors need encouragement too!

Church, let's bond together in unity!  To love extravagantly, to work tirelessly alongside each other.  To glorify God and to lift up our shepherds.  All denominations, all races, ALL God's people.