April 03 2026

Friday April 03

A Pastor’s Heart

Philippians 1:7

We are continuing to look at Philippians 1 and today we are looking at verse 7. This is where the Apostle Paul continues what he has already started talking about back in verse 3 when he says, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Then he mentions, “always in every prayer of mine making requests for you all with joy,” and in verse 5, “for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,” and next in verse 6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Today we are focusing on verse 7, where we see a pastor’s heart: “Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.”

The Apostle Paul was once a persecutor—a zealous persecutor—of the church. You read about this in Acts chapters 7-8. He was standing there when Stephen was being stoned to death, holding the garments of those who carried it out. My friend, Paul hated Christians. At that time, he was known as Saul. But something happened on the road to Damascus when he met Jesus, and everything changed. Remember when Jesus met him on that road. When Saul asked, “Who are You?” Jesus answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” So Saul was not just persecuting believers—he was persecuting Jesus Himself.

Later, when Paul gave his testimony before Agrippa in Acts 26. In verse 10 he said, “This I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” Then notice verse 11: “And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Paul once hated Christians, but everything changed when he met Jesus, and his heart was transformed.

After his conversion, Paul became a Bible teacher in the church at Antioch of Syria. From there, he was sent out as a missionary. He became a church planter. But most of all, he was a pastor—and he had a pastor’s heart. That is what he expresses here: “It is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart.” What a beautiful expression. Paul is not just writing theology—he is expressing love. This is the heart of a pastor speaking to people he deeply cares about: “Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart”.

Remember, Paul is sitting in prison, in chains, possibly facing execution, and yet he is thinking of others. That is what he means when he says, “I have you in my heart.” This is what real spiritual leadership looks like. It is not distant. It is not cold. It is not merely instructional. Because people do not care what you say to them until they know that you care about them.

It is sad, over the years, when I hear people say, “My pastor does not even know my name. My pastor does not really care about me. He knows nothing about my family or my life. My pastor never really shows up. He is a good teacher, a good preacher—he does all these good things—but he has no idea what is going on in my life.” You see, being a pastor is relational. Paul did not just preach to these people—he loved them. And this works both ways. A real pastor loves his people, and a real church loves their pastor. That is what makes for a healthy church.

I live here in Sneads Ferry, where I meet with pastors from various churches every Tuesday morning for prayer. I can tell you one thing about these pastors here in Sneads Ferry: they love their people. They pray for their people. They serve their people. They go out of their way and make sacrifices for them. It is a wonderful thing to watch and be a part of.

By the way, we are having a Easter Sunrise service at Onslow County Beach Access # 2, on North Topsail Beach this Sunday morning at 6:30. If you live in the area, we would love for you to attend this beautiful sunrise service with us.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!