Caring With God’s Care

By Joseph Bymukama // May 4th 2025

God cares for the congregation through faithful pastoral presence, which should be both personal and practical. Pastors are called to know their sheep, not just greet them impersonally. This involves being present, teaching, and preaching God’s word. Paul exemplifies this by spending three years discipling believers in Ephesus personally and practically, even working with his hands. When Paul could no longer be physically present, he sent Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful servant, to represent his personal and practical care and presence. Tychicus served as a commendable example of true discipleship. Modern pastors also strive to know their congregation personally and practically. Church membership is emphasised as important for effective personal and practical pastoral care, as it defines who belongs and allows shepherds to know precisely who they lead.

However, pastors also need care. They want to be known personally, have their birthdays and children’s names remembered, and receive calls during difficult times and important events. Many pastors burn out or consider leaving ministry because their congregations do not care for them. Pastoral work is tough, with many pastors struggling financially or overworking, which can negatively impact their families. The congregation has an obligation and responsibility to care for their pastors with God’s care, personally and practically. This involves thoughtful congregational responses. Concrete ways to care include praying for pastors by name, giving sacrificially and financially, expressing gratitude, knowing their families and their children’s names, and checking in with them personally. God cares for pastors through these thoughtful congregational responses.

When pastors care for the congregation and the congregation cares for their pastors, both personally and practically, everyone begins to experience God’s care. God reveals His care in our lives through His pardon for sin, peace that endures, love poured out, and grace extended to sinners.

God’s care is revealed through three main things: peace, love, and grace. These three elements are significant as they appear at both the beginning and the conclusion of the book of Ephesians.

1. Peace: The peace Paul prays for is not merely the absence of war, as understood in the Greco-Roman world. It is a comprehensive, personal, relational harmony (like the Jewish concept of shalom) between God and His people, within the community of faith, and even extending to nature. It’s a positive relational state and rest. Christ Himself is our peace; the gospel brings peace by removing enmity between us and God and one another. Pursuing peace within the church by being eager to maintain unity, not being easily annoyed, not keeping score, and pursuing forgiveness and reconciliation demonstrates and allows us to experience God’s personal and practical care. God’s peace is God’s care and should be treasured and guarded.
   
2. Love: Love is defined as a practical regard for and interest in another. God’s love for us is the foundation upon which we interact with one another, bear with each other, speak truth in love, and walk. God’s love demonstrates His care for us. This love comes to us through our union with Christ by faith and flows out to impact the community and draw in outsiders. An incorruptible love for Christ reveals itself through our love for one another. God’s love is God’s care; it should be cherished constantly and reflected to others.
   
3. Grace: Grace refers to God’s favour and good will toward us. It is the opposite of judgment, where God turns His face towards us in a favourable relationship. By grace, we are saved, redeemed, adopted, and forgiven. Grace is the gospel and our only hope. God’s grace for us demonstrates His care. It also impacts us to turn towards each other in reconciliation, forgiveness, harmony, peace, and love. Our gracious care for one another is an offering to God, demonstrating that we understand our salvation is purely a work of grace. God’s grace is God’s care; be grateful for it and extend it to others unceasingly.

Peace, love, and grace all come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, highlighting their shared source and demonstrating the unity of action between the Father and the Son, revealing their shared divine essence. In giving us peace, love, and grace, God is giving us Himself.

Ultimately, caring with God’s care means embodying God’s presence to God’s people. When both pastors and congregations fulfil their roles in caring for one another with God’s care, everyone experiences God’s care and fares well.