Good Shepherds

Good Shepherds

There is a need for true and good shepherds in the church; shepherds who have pure hearts, and who have the love of Christ poured out in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.

A good shepherd is in contact with the Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus Christ. A shepherd has the blessed task of gathering together. He guards the church against all backsliding into the world. He has faith in his heart—the faith that has overcome the world.

“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” 1 Tim. 3:1.

God equips His church with rich gifts, so that it might grow strong in all the virtues of Christ. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:11-13. All of them are engaged in a conscious work with abundant tasks. The trust relationship increases, and God gives authority. Two people can speak the same words from the Bible, and yet there can be a great difference in the trust relationship and in the degree of receptivity. In the church we need to work toward a trust relationship in order to be a good shepherd and overseer.

Paul placed great trust in Timothy, more than in the others. “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:20-21. In order to be a tool in God’s hand that can serve others, God must have had opportunity to work on that tool, so it can do abundant and unselfish works. A good shepherd must see his great and abundant task the way Paul saw it: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28. We can be good shepherds once we see that the church has been purchased with such a high price.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:11: “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we seek to win men.” He was truly a good shepherd who had the mind of Christ.

A good mother can perform the ministry of a good shepherd in her home. Such a mother can say to her children, “Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.” Prov. 4:13.

Jesus wanted to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they would not. Matt. 23:27. Think of the glory they passed up because they would not, and think of the need and the sufferings from which they could have been spared.

There are many people who have bitterly regretted their disobedience and stubbornness at a certain age. Their heart will constantly remind them: “If only I had! If only I had!” However, your life cannot be lived over again.

Those who are humble are easily entreated; they are willing to be guided to everything that is good. They follow the voice of the Shepherd, and they become good shepherds themselves.