The Faithful Pastor

A faithful pastor who has known?
His value countless is
Who ever cares for all God's own
And makes their troubles his.

He shepherds all his flock of God;
Their guarding is his pride;
With tenderness he bears the rod
And staff, their lives to guide.

His life is blameless, without spot,
He cannot be accused;
Example sets he to the lot
Of them that God did choose.

A preacher of God's wondrous Word,
A man of truth is he.
He makes the Gospel to be heard,
For souls works jealously.

When strays a member from the Way,
He feels the utmost pain;
He urges him to Christ obey
And prays 'tis not in vain.

When teachers false invade the church,
He suffers sore in heart;
For ways to show their lies does search,
Of truth forsakes no part.

So therefore, double honor pay
To them that labor hard,
To them that strive to show the Way
And struggle in the Word.

O Lord, we pray, please grant that we
May such a man receive—
Who makes You all his life to be—
And never let him leave.

—7/19/2010

A/N 11/25/25: The church I wrote this at would later violently split. I pray I do not dishonor anyone involved by reposting this old poem here with the observation that I think it it is an appropriately reverent prayer that describes and honors good shepherds.