Numbers 11:29 But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!"
Sometimes, as a pastor, I get tired of being the “designated prayer”. It’s not that I don’t enjoy praying, I love to pray, it’s just that sometimes it’s nice to hear from other people – to know how you thank God for a meal, how you ask for help from God, how you give praise for the joys of life and the wonders of the world around us. We all pray, we all have spiritual gifts, so why is it that when there is a pastor in the room, we all forget what we know and turn to them to speak for and to us?
I know that I am not the most spiritual person in any place I go. I know that I am not the best speaker, the wisest, the most profound witness of God’s love. I am surrounded by people who know more than I do, who have seen more than I have, who have experienced God in other ways than I have. I do not feel the least bit intimidated or jealous when someone else steps up to share the “Jesus story” or their spiritual wisdom.
When the elders of the wandering Israelites began to do what the Holy Spirit called them to do – prophesy to the people – some were disturbed that anyone other than Moses would dare to do such a thing. It was at that point he spoke those words, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!"
I know exactly what he meant. My prayer is that we might begin to be a “priesthood of all believers” and that no person would ever be held up as “the” preacher, “the” prayer, “the” interpreter, but rather, that everyone would be willing to share in the cost and joy of discipleship and share their spiritual gifts. We all have them. Mine happens to be pastoral ministry, yours might be something else. One is not more important than the other, so please, be my guest – say the prayer, pick the scripture reading, share what you have learned. I won’t be jealous, but grateful you have shared your spiritual gift!
The Trust Project
