Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. KJV
THE PASTOR- A CRUCIAL DISCIPLER
I have respect for all the offices in the five-fold ministry, Eph4:11. None is greater or better than the other but the cruciality of their functions differ. In my opinion, the office of the Pastor is crucial in discipleship without which whatever is done by others may amount to zero if there's no Pastor to nurture it. One crucial role of a Pastor is to disciple believers into Christ-likeness. For a Pastor, he has no option in the matter because his office is stationary and he has flocks to tend, nurture, feed and care for over a period of time.
A Pastor is a discipler of disciplers. He is to disciple parents that would disciple their children. When parents are not under a discipling Pastor, they may not be able to disciple their children effectively. That's why every family must be committed to a local church and eat thesame spiritual meal. In Judges2:10, the generation that knew not the Lord arose because Pastors failed in their discipleship duties. God was angry with the Pastors who did not disciple His people and he cursed them( Jer23:1-2) but He made a promise to raise good Pastors that would do His bidding(Jer23:3-4).
I once attended a church as a first timer where i was asked if i want to be Pastored by their Pastor. I did not understand it properly then but now i know that's a deep question. As a reader of this devotional, if you're conscious about reigning with Jesus in heaven, stay under a Pastor that places premium on Pastoring men for the kingdom not an actor or noise maker. He must be on ground not roving. The beauty of Pastoring is not in the number of invitations gotten per year but in the lives raised and discipled into Christ-likeness.
As a Pastor, are you Pastoring the bible way? As a believer, are you under a discipling shepherd? We cannot go forward until we answer these two questions properly.