Shepherds

Shepherds

I don't think it was a coincidence that God chose Shepherds to come and find newborn baby Jesus the Messiah in a manger.  Afterall,  He is the good Shepherd and Jesus was the lamb that was sent to be sacrificed for our sins. 

These common, hard-working people had a thankless job of tending the sheep, leading them, guiding them, protecting them, and caring for them.  It's sort of what God does for us.   I've been told sheep are some of the dumbest animals in the world, they are hard-headed and stubborn, well I think it's a good comparison, because I know I at times, we are all dumb, stubborn, and hard-headed.  We are also easily led astray, vulnerable to attacks (sheep wolves and other predators, us satan, though he is also compared to a wolf in sheep's clothing as well).

The point is we need guidance.  We need accountability and leadership in our lives.  If not, we are prone to get lost, fall and get hurt, or even put ourselves in danger from temptations, addictions, struggles, and problems.   As churches, we need leaders to lead our churches.  Most churches have problems because they do no have adequate Shepherds(also called Elders, Overseers, and Pastors) to lead and guide the flock(God's church).  When you have no leadership you have chaos, one or two trying to dominate or be controlling, and you certainly have many different individual groups trying to "run" the church, but they are just "running" it in the ground" and "running" members and potential members away.

We need a Shepherd.  We need a God to guide us, lead us, and protect us. If we accept this lamb of God(Jesus), He gives us His Spirit to dwell in us and act as a guide.  We can call on the Good Shepherd anytime in prayer for help, comfort, strength, wisdom, courage, power, and direction.

You cannot go through life with no leadership?  You will spend 40 years doing circles in the desert like the Israelites did in the Old Testament because they refused to follow God.

As the Christmas season and story is around you and you hear about Shepherds. I want you to think about the importance of having a Shepherd in your life,  maybe that's what's  missing?  As a church member or a Christian I want you to think about the Shepherds in your church.  I want to encourage you to support them, pray for them, follow them, and allow them to lead.  If you church doesn't have Shepherds like the situation I am in, turn to the Bible and see what the Bible says about leadership and get some Shepherds in your church so that your church will be biblical, healthy, and function as it should with God as the ultimate shepherd.

We all need leadership in our lives:

As Individuals we need God:
 John 10:11(NIV)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep

As a church we need Godly men to lead us:
1 Peter 5:2(NIV)

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;