The Secret to Being a Successful Pastor: A 5-Day Challenge by Andrew HébertSýnishorn

DAY 5

One of the features that stands out most prominently in the beatitudes is the repetition of the phrase, “Blessed are.” This changes in vs. 11 to the simple, “You are blessed.”

Blessed, recognizing our spiritual poverty. Blessed, being broken over our sin and humbled by it. Blessed, hungering and thirsting for the righteousness of Jesus. Blessed, becoming a person of mercy and purity who values peace among brothers and sisters. Blessed, enduring hardship for Jesus’ sake.

These virtues are not flashy. In our culture, they are strange. It requires a certain going against the grain of what is considered normal. But they bring blessing. The pastor who embraces the character of Christ—that is to say, who allows God to form Christ’s character in him—is a blessed pastor.

The blessing of the beatitudes leads us to joy. “Be glad and rejoice,” Jesus says, “because your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:12). This rejoicing because of our reward certainly refers to the immediate beatitude about persecution, but in another sense, it is a fitting conclusion to the beatitudes as a whole. The man or woman who embodies the beatitudes has joy in a great reward.

This joy and this reward are not only available to disciples who live the “beatitudinal life,” but also to those pastors who shape and form their ministries into the mold of the Sermon on the Mount. The pastor whose life reflects the beatitudes can rejoice because his reward is great. Pastor, you need to know that Jesus is radically committed to your joy!

In 1 Peter 5, Peter speaks of a unique reward that faithful pastors receive. After encouraging pastors to shepherd the flock of God faithfully as “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3), Peter shares this promise: “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). The word Peter uses for “crown” refers to the wreath that would have been placed on the head of an athletic champion, a soldier who had displayed courage in battle, or on an emperor.

Those wreaths would have wilted and faded over time, but the crown that Jesus will give his pastors will never fade. It is a crown of glory, of recognition and approval by the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Pastor, the reward for a race well run is great.

We hope this plan encouraged you. Learn more at shepherdinglikejesus.com.