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GROW SPIRITUALLY THROUGH THE WORD Excerpt from Navigating Ministry Challenges © 2021 Concordia Publishing House, pages 169–72, All rights reserved. (This title is a compilation of essays written by experienced pastors sharing their own stories, challenges, and les- sons they have learned while serving the Lord in this specific vocation. Though this essay is written by a pastor for a pastor, there are still important lessons for us all to learn regardless of where God has called us to serve.) I n his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul admonished all Christians to be careful of their spiritual lives, saying, "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). And this admonish- ment is especially important and necessary for pastors. . . . Pastors shepherd the flock of God, tending, guiding, and caring for the people of the Church in many important ways. Pastors are therefore very special targets for Satan. If he can distort a pastor's faith, distract him from his ministry, tempt him to focus on himself and away from Christ, or bring him down in any way, he can do great damage to the Church of Christ. So a pastor can expect strong and frequent attacks from the devil and his agents. And that being the case, a pastor must indeed "take heed lest he fall." St. Paul not only offers the admonishment to take heed but in his Letter to the Ephesians, he lays out explicit advice on how we should do that, saying, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the author- ities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righ- teousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:10–18) 18 Lutheran Life

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