Shepherds

Shepherds

A shepherd’s work is to feed and tend the flock. John 21:15-17. It is difficult for a shepherd to tend the flock if he does not feed them. If they lack food, the sheep are apt to become more occupied with each other’s mistakes. They become restless and run around on the meadows, seeking nourishment. Then if the shepherd wants to watch over them he has to run after them. This puts them into the path of danger and makes it easier for the beasts of prey to attack them.

It is easy for the shepherd to tend the flock if he has sufficient food for the sheep. The sheep love the one who gives them food, and they gather where the food is, which makes it easy for the shepherd to oversee them. Then he has the sheep with him and can lead them out of danger.

Many a leader of an assembly has difficulties with his members. He chastises them, corrects them and admonishes them, but nothing seems to help. I wonder if it isn’t because he has too little food to give? He lacks revelation of the Spirit or an ear with which to hear what the Spirit wants to say to the church. He is more like one of the ten thousand instructors. If he had had a father’s mind, he would have better understood what the members needed and would have had more of the Spirit over him when he said, “Follow me.” 1 Cor. 4:15-16.

The sons of Zadok had been faithful; therefore they were permitted to stand before God’s face to offer to Him the fat and the blood. They were entrusted with the ministry. Ezek. 44:15.

If the leader of an assembly lacks food to give, it is because he has not been faithful. He has one defect or another which does not permit him to approach the Lord’s sanctuary to offer the bread of the Lord. Lev. 21:21.

This kind of leader of an assembly simply cannot create order among the members. He has no authority. Only the one who has stood before God’s face has authority, and this requires absolute purity and a total absence of any defect.

There is much food for thought in this for leaders, elders, and shepherds.