MAY 23,  1 Timothy 3:1

Nick felt a little nervous one Saturday afternoon as he was on his way to return books his dad had borrowed from the Church Pastor, who happened to live in the same HDB block! “Wished we were not neighbours with Pastor! Our family hasn’t attended any church until lately, but now I have to talk with the pastor!” he thought. “What can we talk about? Maybe he won’t be home. Hope so!”

Nick walked slowly to the door. Timidly, he rang the bell. “Hey, there, Nick,” the Church Pastor greeted, taking the books Nick handed him. “My wife just took some of her chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. Are you hungry? Come on in.” Nick never could turn down a chocolate chip cookie, so he followed the pastor into the house. As the Pastor greeted his wife in the kitchen, Nick heard the sound of a basketball game on TV—the same game he had been watching back home. “Looks like the game is done,” observed Pastor.

“You watch basketball games?” Nick asked in surprise. Pastor laughed. “Sure. I’ve been a fan ever since I was your age.” Now that he realized Pastor was like anyone else, he found himself talking to Pastor about school and ball games and all kinds of things.

“I didn’t know pastors did… ah… regular things,” Nick said after they had talked a while.

The Church Pastor grinned. “Some people seem to think pastors study and read the Bible all the time,” he said. “I’m sure we study more than most people because we need to teach God’s Word to the congregation. But we have to learn all those lessons ourselves, too. And, we’re really just like anybody else.”

Nick nodded. He was thoughtful as he went home with a plastic bag full of chocolate chip cookies a little later. The next Sunday, Nick and his father listened to the sermon more attentively than usual. Knowing that the Church Pastor liked basketball and chocolate chip cookies made it easier to listen—and to learn!

Thought: Have you wondered what a pastor does when he’s not preaching? He would be just like anybody else! Ask him, he’ll be glad to tell you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for my pastor and other leaders in church that they would remain faithful and humble to do Your work! I also pray for their families, that You would protect them and strengthen them. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.