SHEPHERDS AND SHEEP!

SHEPHERDS AND SHEEP!

Isa 40:11

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Luke 15:4-5

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

3 John 4

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

          The church’s transformation into a theater has unintentionally transformed congregants into theater goers. Shepherds have become ringmasters in a circus that must add even more daring performances. The ancient relationship of shepherd and sheep has been cruelly altered. Shepherds have forgotten their office and sheep have forgotten that they are sheep.

          Pastors are unusual creatures and some more unusual than others. If they are good shepherds, their standards are different from leaders in any other enterprise. Shepherds are not CEO’s. Their relationship with the sheep is much more than commerce. There is a tenderness and even a bit of sacrifice in the relationship. His “bottom line” is different from most and what makes him most happy is a healthy flock with none missing.

          In Bible days, owners of the sheep often tended the flock themselves. The loss of any sheep was intensely felt. It was a personal loss. He that is an hireling (John 10:12) knew that he would be paid regardless of the condition of the flock. The sheep were often neglected or even abused.

          If Jesus is my shepherd (Psalm 23) and I am His sheep, what can I do to make his job easier? I can take care not to stray away. I can listen carefully to His voice and follow closely as he leads me. As John said in the verse above, I can walk in truth. This is the shepherd’s great reward.

Here is an excerpt from Easton’s Bible Dictionary: “The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous [troublesome]. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief.”

Dear Lord, help me to be a good shepherd. Let me not fear the night nor shun the cold. Show me the green pastures and still waters. But I am also one of your lambs. Help me not to stray. AMEN