July 15, 2026 Devo

Years ago, I heard a wise pastor say something that has always stuck with me. He said, “If you can’t preach a message of chastisement to your congregation with a broken heart, then you shouldn’t preach it.” He was speaking to the point of how many pastors use the pulpit as a “whipping post” for their congregations. His point was that the disobedience, failures, or shortcomings of people should lead us to places of sadness, not anger and bitterness. It’s an important lesson for all of us.
You see, we often make other people’s issues about US. When a congregation isn’t doing what we, as pastors, want them to do, it can bring out our control issues, our pride, or our need to be right. But instead of being sorrowful because we’re concerned about what we believe to be their disobedience to God, or the hindrance to God’s vision for the church, or the lost souls that will not be saved, or the hurt it’ll cause to themselves or others in the church, we personalize it. We become mad rather than sad. And it comes out that way.
The same is true with parenting, mentoring, or trying to help people we’re close to. When those we’re trying to guide don’t take our advice, or they make choices that we know are not good ones, we often respond with harshness, criticism, or a lecture. What’s funny is that often, in our anger, we’ll bail them out or spare them the consequences of what would happen. Our false belief is that somehow this will give us “control” or make them feel obligated to us to do what we tell them to do. Usually, it doesn’t. Which only makes us angrier. Again, we’ve become mad, not sad.
Notice in our passage today how Jeremiah appeals to his people. As he warns them of God’s impending judgment if they don’t turn around, he says, “I will weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears.” Do you hear his sadness? Jeremiah’s heart is a great model for us as we lead, guide, teach, pastor, parent, and mentor. Let’s not make other people’s “stuff” about us. Let’s lead them with the character and compassion of God. Let’s ask God to help us be brokenhearted, not bitter. That’s God’s Word for you today.