1Peter 5:3 “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
O Lord, my loving Shepherd, You never “lorded it over Your flock even though You are THE LORD of all! You are always our example whether we are pastors, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, or parents.
I have a close friend I met years ago. He came to Liberty University from South Korea to study to be a pastor. He already had several master degrees and had served at a very high level in the South Korean military. His name is Jung Ju Choi, but everyone called him Barnabas for a good reason. Because he was an international, his visa would allow him only to work on campus, and his job, while he studied with us, was to clean our offices. I asked him why he did a more than satisfactory job and did it with such joy day after day. I cleaned a Post Office for about 18 months and must admit that although I always did a thorough job, I did not always do it with joy because it was so “daily”. (Parents who have to clean up after their children day after day can relate to this.)
He told me that in Korea, pastors are so very highly respected and revered; they are right up there next to God in the eyes of the people. When he came to America, the only job God would allow him to do was clean our offices. When he complained to Him about the abasement of the job, the Spirit said to his spirit that if he ever hoped to be a pastor and shepherd, he would have to learn first to serve not to be served. And serve he did! He actually became the supervisor of that shift and asked that all “wanna be” pastors from South Korea be assigned to him as well. What a beautiful picture he lived, and still lives back in his country. He is a humble shepherd just doing what he has been called to do to the best of his ability whether cleaning the church or preaching form the pulpit. He is a shining example to other young pastors.
Lord, thank You for allowing me to meet Barnabas and to be blessed by his life and testimony!
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