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Samuel: The Kind of Pastor I Want to Be

I think every young boy and girl dreams about the kind of pastor they would like to be someday. Actually, that probably isn't true at all. But from comments I hear from church members, you might think they know exactly what a pastor should be doing.

But I digress. I often think about the kind of pastor I am and the kind I want to be. I think I've found a good example in the Old Testament prophet Samuel. Consider the following examples of his leadership;

1 Samuel 12:20. Samuel has anointed the Israelites a king in Saul. Then Sam reminds them how sinful they were in asking for a king. Reminding them that God should have been enough, he gives it to them straight. Sinners.

1 Samuel 15:31-33. If you've never read this story, go read the whole chapter. Saul disobeys direct orders from God to totally destroy the enemy Amalekites and so Samuel steps in. Agag, the king of the Amalekites, assumes a pastor won't do him any harm. Wrong answer, Agag. Samuel, like a great pastor, makes it sound poetic, but then he kills Agag.

1 Samuel 16:4. This is my personal favorite. Perhaps because of his history of straight-shooting, no-nonsense style of leadership, the people of Bethlehem 'trembled' when they saw Sam show up on the scene. That's right, trembled. They had no idea what this crazy pastor might do.

I'm sure Sam wasn't perfect. But time and time again, he carried out the will of God. Apparently that left the people guessing. And that's why he's the kind of pastor I want to be.
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