Before you ever step into the role of a pastor, assistant pastor, or elder, you’re a man who walks with Jesus. You’re a born-again believer before anything else. That has to come first. A ministry without a genuine relationship with Jesus might appear busy and very spiritual, but it’s hollow underneath. Without a genuine love for Christ, a man is just managing tasks and filling calendars. Churches are not to be overseen by men like this. The calling is to know Him, to abide in Him, and to love Him with all that we are. Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Ministry flows from that new birth, not from talent, personality, or a packed résumé of various experiences.
God’s love is the greatest motivator. He loved us first, at our worst, not our best. That love is what keeps us going when the work is hard, when people misunderstand, or when doubts creep in. His love stabilizes. It sustains. It reminds us we’re not alone. Paul wrote, “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Without that love at the center, nothing else will matter.
Pastoral ministry can be lonely. Heavy. Confusing. But God’s love is the anchor. When you’re unsure about what to do next, when you feel stretched thin or discouraged, you don’t need a new plan; you need to return to Jesus. Let His love for you wash over you again. Let it calm the confusion and chaos that rule your mind. Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you… apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). It’s a promise to hold on to in these trying times.
The truth is, our public ministry will only be as healthy as our private walk. A man can preach powerful sermons and still be empty on the inside. That’s why reassessing your relationship with Jesus isn’t something you do once at the beginning when you get started. It’s something you do over and over again. Take inventory. Is your time with the Lord consistent? Is your heart tender before Him? Are you still in awe that He called you?
God didn’t choose you because you were perfect. He called you out of His love for you and for the people you’ll serve. That calling is sustained not by performance but by staying close to the One who called you. “Be even more diligent in making your call and election sure,” Peter wrote, “for if you do these things, you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). Stay rooted. Stay humble. Stay dependent on Jesus.
If you’re already in the midst of ministry or just beginning, here’s a reminder: don’t move forward without regularly checking the condition of your soul. Your relationship with Jesus is the foundation of everything. Ministry will try to pull you in every direction, but only one thing truly matters. He loves you. You love Him.
Your strength comes from Him. Your wisdom comes from Him. And the people you serve will be most blessed when what they see in you is the overflow of a life hidden in Christ.
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Adapted from the book, Sure and Steady by Pastor Ed Taylor. Point #1
