A Peek Inside the Parsonage

I was recently with a few friends for a time of fellowship and prayer.  We were honest with one another. We shared our hearts – “I’m struggling with this…”  “Really? I doubted God with this…”  “I keep failing here…” 

Strange what a comfort – (and sometimes a surprise) it is to know that other people struggle just like we do.  It’s not that we want them to fail, but it’s easy to think we’re the only ones that have selfish motives in our hearts or hateful words that slip from our tongues. 

Peek inside the parsonage and you will see that your pastor and his wife – whether it’s The Cunningham’s or another preacher and wife, have sin issues that they deal with just like you.   I get discouraged some days because of my sin, but I’m so thankful that when I read God’s Word, I see there, too, that I am not alone.  In Hebrews 7, we read that the priests in the Old Testament offered up the sacrifice, first for their own sins, and then for the people’s. They were aware of their sin and their need for cleansing.  I am also aware of that very need every single day and therefore rejoice in I John 1:9 and the truth that God cleanses and forgives. 

Why do I make this point?  Just to remind those in the church – don’t put your pastor and his family up on a pedestal, for they will surely disappoint you.  We stand just as needy before God as you do.  Pray for us to desire to be pure before God and to say no to sin.  Pray for us to keep short accounts of our sin that we walk in fellowship with our God.  Pray that we will love what the Lord loves and hate what He hates.  Pray for their children to have tender hearts towards sin – not because they want to please the church, but because they want to please God.

When you go down to the altar some Sunday because the Lord’s dealt with your heart, and you find someone next to you, and realize it’s me, you’ll say, “Oh, yeah. I know all about that girl. She’s just like me!”

From my parsonage windows,