Intercession

Exodus 18:19-22
"Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you."

I'm not sure if I ever really caught this part of Jethro's advice to Moses. He didn't advise Moses to select trustworthy and capable men to judge and listen to Israel's troubles so that Moses didn't have to... Jethro was calling Moses out to intercede on behalf of Israel for all their troubles! What an amazing challenge and picture of what a pastor is called to be and do. Too often I put myself in the position to solve the problems that those in my ministry set before me. Instead I must set before God those in my ministry that have problems. The strength of my ministry and the amount of God's moving will be due to my wisdom, intelligence, strategies or even hard work... but in my dedication to be a pastor of prayer and to intercede on behalf of those God has entrusted to me.

Lord - Make me a pastor of prayer. Make me a man of prayer. Drive me to my knees daily so that You may move and have Your way around me. Amen.