It's Saturday...you've only got a few hours

I know a preacher who will begin his first day of a work he is so very excited about. I know a preacher who it will be announced he is leaving - not his choice.

I know a preacher who will preach his last sermon for a church he has loved but he is moving on.

Out there there are guys who will preach who are struggling with with insecurity, with sin, with worry, with doubt, with confusion, with burdens beyond belief that they lug up to the pulpit.  There are guys who wonder if this will be the last Sunday they’ll get to preach and there are guys who will get hit by something beyond reason, explanation or maybe even belief from the time they walk in the building till they get up to preach.  Someone will be told they have “a meeting” with the elders after the service. Some will have the joy of baptizing someone(s). Somewhere a guy will preach and the church will have a record attendance.

Somewhere a guy will preach to people who he know are having an affair.  Somewhere a man will preach to people who hate him, who are "gunning" for his job and would as soon he be dead as be their preacher. Somewhere a guy will stand and deliver knowing that his words may get him fired.  All over people will judge him - on all the wrong things - but he will judge himself most severely.

He will put on a smile, get in sermon mode, greet everyone - shoulder that boulder and do his best. He will know that his best is not as good as some guys best and he will wish he was better - as a preacher, as a person. He will thank God for His grace and go forward.

I’ve got an idea - it’s Saturday - why not take a moment and send a preaching friend an email and let him know you love him? Why not take a moment from your own frustrations to let a preaching brother know he has affected your life or the lives of people you care for? Why not send a text to just encourage him? It’ll only take a few minutes - tops - but you will make an impression and you will give a lifeline for Sunday or some Sunday down the road.  Even if you preach - today - reach out an encourage a preacher - I imagine he needs it - and even if he doesn’t - he won’t mind it.