August 13, 2017. Jeremiah 23-25.

 

No matter who you are and who you know, you are undoubtedly a shepherd in someone’s life.  Whether that someone be a newer follower of Christ than yourself or maybe even someone who does not have a personal relationship with Him.   You have friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and a whole slew of people who are watching you.  As Uncle Ben would say, “with great power comes great responsibility.”  And as a child of The One True King, you have the power/presence of the Holy Spirit within you.  From a more reliable source comes this same teaching:

Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

You have been given the gift of eternal life spent with God and the knowledge of what He has done for you and who He is.  What an incredible gift!  It is one that is meant to be shared and it is the responsibility of each New Testament believer to help get this good news out!

Learn from the mistakes of shepherds past.

Jeremiah 23:1-2 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “[…] you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them”

God is such a personal and caring heavenly father and as His children we should want to reflect those same characteristics and bestow them upon others.  Some sheep might be more of a handful than others, some might so fluffy and easy to love, others might be a little smellier.  No matter the sheep you are dealing with, try to see them with the eyes of Christ; full of grace, love, and mercy.  The same eyes He looks at you with in your most shining moments and in your darkest times.

The world we live in today is one that fosters division and chaos, but we serve a God of order and grace.  Seek truth and speak life today.  Grab your cane, and get to shepherding!