It was a preaching conference, but the topic had little to do with preaching. The title of the seminar was “The One Thing We Must Become Really Good At,” and I had hoped the conversation was going to be about the “one thing” when it came to preaching. But it wasn’t.

Instead the conversation was bigger than preaching. The conversation cut to the core of every preacher, every pastor, every person… including myself. The conversation centered around the deep desire in everyone to be liked. It’s a desire I have, a desire I’ve had as long as I can remember.

As someone in his thirties I have come to the realization that not everyone will like you. There will be times when people are upset at you, even angry at you, and this is especially true in ministry.

As I sat in that preaching seminar, hoping to hear wisdom about preaching, I heard wisdom that would apply to every area of my life. In that seminar the presenter stood up and said “the one thing we must become really good at is forgiveness.” Boom. That was the truth bomb that cut to the core of my being.

Forgiveness. It sounds nice. It sounds easy. But it is so difficult to do. However, I’ve come to realize it is thing I must do. When people say things, when they think things, when they do things that hurt you/me, we must forgive. I must forgive.

Jesus modeled this when he said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Stephen, shortly before he was stoned to death, he said “Lord, do not hold this against them.”

Powerful statements. Over the years I’ve realized the power of forgiveness. Someone once said, “Forgiveness is setting a person free, and realizing that person is you.” So true. So, Lord, may I become really good at forgiveness. May I forgive those who hurt me. May I give to them what you have given me.

Finally, here is some great advice from a Ronnie Floyd, a seasoned pastor…

Pastor, never forget this: Hurt people hurt people! Sometimes you will become the brunt of other people’s “stuff.” You must be a great forgiver and forgetter! I used to get sidelined and even paralyzed by the criticism of others. At times, it has almost put me to bed! But it comes back to my daily time with God. In prayer, it is easy to forgive and even to forget. It wrecks me when someone dislikes me or writes about me being something I know I am not. However, the route to wholeness and healing is forgiveness toward all people and forgetting about it, always driving forward. Let it go, Pastor! If you hold that hurt, it will fold you and your ministry.

I feel like Jesus and I are fighting.

Well, it’s not so much that Jesus is fighting with me, but I’m fighting with Jesus.

I listen to songs that say, “All to Jesus I surrender, take my life, and I’m giving you my heart,” but daily it’s difficult to live that way.  It’s difficult to trust Jesus completely.  If I’m honest it’s difficult to surrender all, in every area of my life.

In times like this I am reminded of how much I need the words of Psalm 23.  Jesus is not out to torture me, but to lead me…

 to green pastures

to still waters

to places that restore my soul

in paths of righteousness.

When Jesus is allowed to lead my life completely I am not in want. Instead, he supplies all I need.  Jesus, give me the strength today to trust you completely.

“God exalted him at his right hand as LEADER and SAVIOR, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” [Acts 5:31].

Yesterday during my message I said, “the reason I got into this racket of being a pastor was to lead people into an encounter with Jesus.”  That is the real reason I do what I do.  It’s not about programs, it’s not about events, it’s about Jesus and helping people take their next step, or their first step, in following Jesus.

Well, if I’m honest I have to say it’s been a while since I’ve been able to help someone take their first step in following Jesus, but yesterday it happened.  Shortly after I got done with the worship service a young man came up for prayer.  He asked me to pray for him because he was having difficulty breathing.  As he was talking I got a sense not to pray for his breathing, but instead ask him a few questions.  Here’s how the exchange went…

Me:  Have you ever put you faith in Jesus and decided to follow Him?

Young man:  Nope.

Me:  Is there anything preventing you from doing that?

Young man: Nope.

Me:  Would you like to decide to follow Jesus today?

Young man:  I would love that.

After that interaction we talked a bit more and prayed together.  It was definitely the highlight of my day.  Better than any song we sang.  Better than any word I shared.  My highlight was watching this young man give his life to Jesus.  Oh, and by the way the breathing issues stopped after he did this.  Coincidence?  I don’t think so.

This is why I do what I do.  I get excited, so pumped, when I see people give their lives fully to the One who gave himself fully for them.  It’s moments like the one yesterday that fill me and give me the energy to keep going.  I just hope a moment like yesterday happens more often.

There is a need I have in my life.  I need people to listen to me.  I value people who will not only hear what I’m saying, but really listen to me.  Now, I’m not a perfect listener.  Sometimes I really stink at this.  There have been times when my wife and kids have been talking to me and I have been preoccupied with other thoughts.  After talking a while they will say something like, “are you even listening to me?”  Busted.  Even though I fail often at this, I value listening and I really try to listen to people.

But back to my opening thought… I need people in my life that will listen to me.  In fact, rarely will I open up to people unless I feel they are really listening to me.  One thing that frustrates me in conversation is when people throw in a courteous “uh huh or yeah”, but in reality they aren’t listening.

One of the attributes of God I most appreciate is that he listens.  When his people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt it says they groaned and cried out because of their slavery, and their cries were heard!  It says, “God heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24).  God listened to their cries.  He really listened.  Another time a man by the name of Hezekiah received some devastating news.  He was told to get things in order because he was going to die.  After hearing this news, Hezekiah did what most people would do, he cried out to God.  And how did God respond?  God said, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears.  Behold I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5).  God listened.  There are so many times when God hears the prayers of people… even people who don’t believe in him.

I need people to listen to me.  I doubt I’m the only with this need.  I think we all have this need deep down in our souls.  How cool is it that we have a God who takes time to listen.  He hears my cries.  He listens to my needs.  He hears my complaining.  That’s awesome.