The Good Shepherd
So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. Acts 20:28
I suspect that most people would choose not to be compared with sheep! It would hardly be seen as a flattering description! Sheep are rarely viewed as the brightest of animals and are generally understood to be easily led. However, God’s people are frequently described as being like sheep in both the Old and New Testaments. It isn’t surprising therefore that, as Paul addressed the Ephesian elders in his final talk with them, he spoke of their responsibilities for caring for the flock. Paul knew that the church, like any flock of sheep, needed to be protected, fed and cared for.
The responsibility for caring for the church was so great that the person had to be appointed by the Holy Spirit. That is still the case today. If an individual feels an inner conviction that this is something that they should do, while that should always be greatly welcomed it also needs to be carefully weighed and assessed by others who, listening to the Holy Spirit, will seek to discern whether this is God’s will.
The responsibility of the shepherd always involves guarding the flock. In Psalm 23 David, who had himself been a shepherd, reflected that the Lord’s “rod and staff protect and comfort me” (v4). The rod and staff, or shepherd’s crook, were the means of defending the sheep from attackers but also of rescuing those that got into trouble. The shepherd had an active and continual role of protecting the sheep and that’s exactly the role that church leaders need to perform today. Life is full of threats and temptations and the shepherd must be continually alert.
There are many different aspects to a shepherd’s role, but they are summed up in the word love. We see that supremely in the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who gladly laid down his life for his sheep. We need to thank God that the Holy Spirit continues to appoint people to the awesome responsibility of church leadership.
QUESTION
How do you understand the role of the shepherd in church life today?
PRAYER
Thank you Lord for those whom you set apart for leadership in the Church in our day. May they be faithful in guarding, feeding and caring for their flock. Amen