Faithful Shepherds

GuardianAngelStore · Newbie Joined: Jul 07, 2015 Posts: 40 Status: **Offline**

Faithful Shepherds:

The prophet Jeremiah shared the words of the Lord, saying, ?Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture?oracle of the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have banished them and bring them back to their folds; there they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear or be terrified; none shall be missing?oracle of the LORD.? (Jeremiah 23:1-4)

Those in position of leadership incur responsibility for those they lead just as the shepherd of the field has for the sheep of the flock. Jesus told us, ?Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.? (Matthew 5:19)

There are many ways a leader may go astray of their responsibility. They may unintentionally mislead the flock because of what they do not know, they may intentionally mislead the flock to achieve agendas, they may neglect the flock to pursue personal desires, or they may strike out at the flock in anger. Should anyone assume leadership of any of His flock, they have a responsibility to gather them in and to care for their spiritual needs. It will become the sin of the shepherd, if through their actions or neglect, the sheep wander. It will become the sin of the shepherd, if through their actions or neglect, the sheep fall prey to the wolves in the darkness. It will become the sin of the shepherd, if through their actions or neglect, any should be lost.

It is for this reason the evil one will seek to deceive and tempt the shepherds, for if the one who tends the flock is corrupted, then, the sheep will also become vulnerable to corruption. We might wonder then, if we are vulnerable because of our own sin, for what reason should we ever consider becoming a shepherd for any portion of His flock and risk even greater attention from the evil one, not only for the ruin of our soul, but those for which we incur responsibility? The answer is within the call we discern. Should we hear His voice, we should not close our hearts, rather, we should place it in His hands and pray that He will guide and protect it as we lend ourselves to His work. What may be impossible for us alone becomes possible when we place our trust in Him. The role is not easy, but heaven rejoices as the faithful shepherd steps forward to tend the flock and gather in the lost sheep.

Blessed are the faithful shepherds, for they are servants of His flock and heaven rejoices at their work.