A Shepherd’s Heart

MWhat is a Sheppherd? a person who tends and rears sheep. Or the one to guide or direct in a particular direction. If a sheep doesn’t follow the shepherd, then it can stray and can become prey to other animals or beast of the fields. The sheep know their shepherds voice and they listen and follow.

This is parallel to us as sheep in the church. If you are not following and listening to your pastor/ shepherd, then you are allowing yourself to become prey to the devil and beast of the fields. You are following other sheep rather than your shepherd. You can’t follow other sheep and expect to stay safe. A sheep knows it’s shepherds voice and follows it. That is what keeps the sheep safe and with the flock. We need the Shepherd to lead us. Sheep follow other sheep and that can be dangerous. They need to be led to safety and to quiet waters and that is what the shepherd does, not other sheep. Sheep by nature will just follow other sheep and this can lead them over a cliff or into dangerous waters.

The duty of shepherd is to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to safe areas. If a sheep strays from its shepherd, then it will go off in a direction that can cause harm or cause it to perish.

The gift of shepherding is the gift of mentoring and providing spiritual guidance to others to help them develop in the discipleship and faith formation. Shepherds take an active and individualized interest in the life of faith of others. Shepherds share from their own faith journey to make the way easier for others.

The relationship between a shepherd and sheep is one that is built of trust. Sheep are known to be one of the most anxious animals, and the only thing that can calm them is their shepherd. The Bible tells us that if a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninetynine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

Just as the pastor is called to protect the sheep from false teaching, so is he called to protect the sheep from false comforts or sin. The point is made apparent, once again, in 1 Timothy. In Chapter 6, Paul begins by demonstrating how failure to protect one’s doctrine will result in the consequent fall into ungodliness. Then he continues by identifying not only the sinful heart of the false teacher—“he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels”—but also the product of such teaching: “envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” The principle is clear: false teachers, who have stumbled into impurity, will multiply their moral depravity among those who fall victim to their fabrications.

Ironically, Paul’s exhortation in 2 Timothy 4 shows the nature by which sinful living feeds and invites further false teaching. He says, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”] As people become accustomed to sinful lifestyles, Paul says, they will turn away from the truth to affirm and resource their self-seeking pleasures. Just as a true flock of sheep is vulnerable to sickness spreading wildly, so too is a congregation when false teaching and sin are allowed to permeate and grow within. We must be very careful who we listen to online or in person. You need to know who you are allowing to speak into your life. And if you are not listening to your pastor/shepherd voice then you are setting yourself up for danger. The shepherd with a heart wants the best for his flock. To have a shepherd’s heart means also to know your sheep and be known by them. The shepherd lives in close proximity to the flock under his charge. They become accustomed to the sound of his voice. Follow your shepherd not other sheep.

Visit The Family Church 9456 Hwy 146 N Liberty, TX (Hardin) or facebook live @tfchardin.