DCLM Daily Manna 4 October 2021 — Pray For Pastors
TOPIC: Pray For Pastors (DCLM Daily Manna 4 October 2021)
TEXT: Numbers 12:9-16
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.
10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.
13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
KEY VERSE: “And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.” – (Numbers 12:11)
MESSAGE:
Someone wrote this about the delicate office of the pastor: “No one knows what a pastor hears, what he sees, the secrets he must keep, the temptations he encounters, the tears he sheds, the sorrows he endures, the loneliness he manages, the bitterness he experiences and the lies levied against him by some of the people he serves!”
Also Read: Open Heaven 4 October 2021 – Keep Your Heart Pure
Moses was an exceptional leader. Described as “the meekest man on earth” by none other than God Himself, he still had to endure undue and unwarranted criticisms as evidenced in our text. Miriam appeared to have been the ring leader, with her brother Aaron joining her in this verbal attack against Moses, the prophet of God for marrying an Ethiopian woman. Expectedly, the judgment of God fell upon Miriam and she became leprous, white as snow. Despite Moses’ attempt to plead on her behalf before God, Miriam was still shut out of the camp for seven days for irreverence and wrong use of her tongue.
We must be careful of what we say about pastors and leaders placed over us by God. Theirs is a sacred duty to pray, teach, counsel and protect the flock of Christ. They already have so much to cope with as a result of the dangers and challenges associated with their task. Members of the church should pray for, and assist them to fulfil their God-ordained task rather than engage in unwise criticisms and bitter complaints against them.
This does not in any way imply that pastors cannot be corrected or called to order when they violate or abuse their office. Correction would still come, but through the proper channel and from God when He thinks it necessary. Let us repent of all unwise utterances spoken against our pastors and leaders, and ask for grace to assist them fulfil their ministries.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Pray for your pastor.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hebrews 10-13
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
