“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.” (Philippians 2:19, KJV)
When my grown children would travel, we always anxiously awaited a phone call to know that they got in safely. I guess this is natural. Perhaps I learned it from my mother. When we would travel from their home in the Philadelphia area back to Georgia, she would always say to us, “Call when you get in.” Parents want to know that their children are doing well no matter what their age is. It is the same with anyone who loves another and it is the same with spiritual parentage.
Paul felt a certain spiritual parentage for those in the churches. It was an underlying reason for writing his epistles. He cared for those in the churches like they were his own children.
It is my opinion, that any pastor worth a grain of salt looks at his parishioners with the heart of a spiritual parent. He will be vitally interested in the welfare, and particularly the spiritual welfare of each parishioner. This is because the shepherd loves the sheep.
The pastor who loves the sheep will often lie awake at night concerned and praying for parishioners that are enduring great trials in their lives. They will be in prayer for their parishioners. They often will carry tremendous burdens for their parishioners.
I do not think that many parishioners understand the heavy load that the pastors carry for them. This on top of the others burdens they carry. They fight the good fight for the work of the great commission. They work to prepare and present the word of God accurately. Moreover, they unfortunately have to endure the occasional cantankerous parishioners who feel it is their position to complain about things in the church.
Have some compassion on your pastors. They have a difficult calling. Pray for them and they keep watch over the flock with great love.
Renewing the Heart 