THE IMPORTANCE OF PASTORAL CARE

 

Monday, November 1, 2021

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF PASTORAL CARE

2 Tim 4:2

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

James 1:27

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

 

Jer 3:15

15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

 

          Pastoral ministry has become an important business – and that is its greatest flaw. The Amplified Bible is brutal in its treatment of Second Timothy 4:2 and the 23^rd chapter of Jeremiah is withering in warning the unfaithful shepherds of Israel. The word “visit,” as used in Jeremiah is paqad [paw-kad] and indicates a friendly visit. The word in James is episkeptomai and means “to inspect.” Here the idea is to inspect the sheep for wounds or insect infestations. Pastoral care is of primary concern to the Master Shepherd!

 

John 10:11-15

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

 

Thank you, Lord, for being our Good Shepherd. Give us men to watch over us in your stead. Do not deliver us into the hands of a hireling. AMEN