Daily Devotional
"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you."
Titus 1:5
Paul understood that healthy churches require qualified spiritual leaders. He didn’t leave Titus to simply “figure it out” but gave specific instructions for establishing eldership. This wasn’t an afterthought or secondary concern – it was the first priority. Like Gregory of Nazianzus, who initially fled from the calling because he understood its weight, we should recognize that spiritual leadership carries enormous responsibility.
When we grasp the significance of what pastors and elders are called to do – shepherding souls, handling God’s Word, caring for God’s people – it should profoundly impact how we pray for them. They carry the weight of eternal responsibilities while battling the same human weaknesses we all face.
The early church prioritized establishing leadership because they understood that without faithful shepherds, the flock would scatter. Churches without qualified leadership become vulnerable to false teaching, division, and spiritual drift. Paul’s urgency in appointing elders reflects God’s heart for His people to be properly cared for and led.
Today's Challenge
How has your perspective on the role and responsibility of church leadership shaped your prayers and support for your pastors? What specific burdens might your spiritual leaders be carrying that you could lift up in prayer today?
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of spiritual leadership in Your church. Help me to understand the weight of responsibility that pastors and elders carry. Give me a heart that intercedes faithfully for those who shepherd Your people. Show me specific ways I can support and encourage the leaders You have placed in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
