“The Dove” | Ponderings of a Pastor
Key Thought | We may long for the fire of God’s power, but it is the purity of our character that invites the dove to remain.
Key Scripture | “It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:15-21 NLT
I was listening to a message by my favorite author and he said something in passing that triggered this thought in me.
“Many pray for the fire to fall but few know how to get the dove to land.”
It would not be too far of a statement to say the “charismatic movement” is in an interesting place. We are seeing so many examples of what I would call God bringing purity to His bride. Some may say it’s only happening in the charismatic movement, but that’s not true. It’s happened everywhere across all denominations and landscapes of church.
There are many reasons for this. In my opinion, the biggest is that Christ is returning for a pure and spotless bride. A cleansing must happen inside the church before a true outpouring can happen outside the church. One of things that concerns me is when we want judgment and retribution to happen in government first. It reveals that we have an unholy view of how God moves. He doesn’t change people’s hearts from the outside in, but rather from the inside out.
While I’m all for Christian reform and a return to Christian values, I am fully aware that you can’t legislate the heart. Anyone who has ever raised a teenager can testify to this.
Thus we are left with our current environment, one that often leaves me wondering what would anyone want to do public ministry with keyboard critics at every turn? Yet Peter’s words can’t be escaped.
“It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:15-21 NLT
Peter through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says it so clearly. If Christ suffered, so will we.
The calling of the pastor was never meant to be a popularity contest. It was never meant to make us famous. Yes, there are times that what you say moves people, but there are also times it angers them. It was never meant to only be inhabited by perfect people, but the position is to be held to a much higher standard.
So today, I will sit with my team in our monthly all-staff meeting. They are from all different backgrounds, ages, and stages; and the message will be honest.
While the world—and even the church—may be asking for fire to fall, we must become people who know how to create space for the dove to land and, like Jesus, remain.
How God chooses to move is up to Him, but the condition of my heart and my character is my responsibility.
Maybe the greater invitation isn’t to chase fire, but to become steady enough for the dove to stay.
Before we look outward for change, let’s look inward.
Where there is humility, endurance, and quiet obedience, the Spirit rests.
So today, let Him refine you — not for applause, but for abiding.
Prayer | Lord, We confess that it’s easier to ask for Your power than to submit to Your refining. We long to see You move, but we don’t always welcome the quiet work You want to do within us.
Purify our motives.
Steady our hearts.
Teach us to endure misunderstanding without losing love, and to lead without craving approval.
Make us the kind of people where Your Spirit feels at home.
Not driven by applause, not shaken by criticism — but anchored in obedience.
If suffering is part of following You, give us grace to endure it well.
Let our lives honor You more than our words ever could.
Amen.
Reflection
Key Scripture | “It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:15-21 NLT
I was listening to a message by my favorite author and he said something in passing that triggered this thought in me.
“Many pray for the fire to fall but few know how to get the dove to land.”
It would not be too far of a statement to say the “charismatic movement” is in an interesting place. We are seeing so many examples of what I would call God bringing purity to His bride. Some may say it’s only happening in the charismatic movement, but that’s not true. It’s happened everywhere across all denominations and landscapes of church.
There are many reasons for this. In my opinion, the biggest is that Christ is returning for a pure and spotless bride. A cleansing must happen inside the church before a true outpouring can happen outside the church. One of things that concerns me is when we want judgment and retribution to happen in government first. It reveals that we have an unholy view of how God moves. He doesn’t change people’s hearts from the outside in, but rather from the inside out.
While I’m all for Christian reform and a return to Christian values, I am fully aware that you can’t legislate the heart. Anyone who has ever raised a teenager can testify to this.
Thus we are left with our current environment, one that often leaves me wondering what would anyone want to do public ministry with keyboard critics at every turn? Yet Peter’s words can’t be escaped.
“It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:15-21 NLT
Peter through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says it so clearly. If Christ suffered, so will we.
The calling of the pastor was never meant to be a popularity contest. It was never meant to make us famous. Yes, there are times that what you say moves people, but there are also times it angers them. It was never meant to only be inhabited by perfect people, but the position is to be held to a much higher standard.
So today, I will sit with my team in our monthly all-staff meeting. They are from all different backgrounds, ages, and stages; and the message will be honest.
While the world—and even the church—may be asking for fire to fall, we must become people who know how to create space for the dove to land and, like Jesus, remain.
How God chooses to move is up to Him, but the condition of my heart and my character is my responsibility.
Maybe the greater invitation isn’t to chase fire, but to become steady enough for the dove to stay.
Before we look outward for change, let’s look inward.
Where there is humility, endurance, and quiet obedience, the Spirit rests.
So today, let Him refine you — not for applause, but for abiding.
Prayer | Lord, We confess that it’s easier to ask for Your power than to submit to Your refining. We long to see You move, but we don’t always welcome the quiet work You want to do within us.
Purify our motives.
Steady our hearts.
Teach us to endure misunderstanding without losing love, and to lead without craving approval.
Make us the kind of people where Your Spirit feels at home.
Not driven by applause, not shaken by criticism — but anchored in obedience.
If suffering is part of following You, give us grace to endure it well.
Let our lives honor You more than our words ever could.
Amen.
Reflection
- Am I more focused on asking God to move around me, or allowing Him to refine what’s within me?
- If the Spirit were looking for a place to rest, would my current attitudes, responses, and motives invite Him to remain?
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