“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

  - John 10.27, 28

But let it be enough to have indicated that each will need to be moulded to the example of his redeemer and the pattern of the true shepherd, Who first preaching humility, and adding seven beatitudes to the first, which is poverty of spirit, taught man so to follow His footsteps...

  - Columbanus, Letter to Certain Bishops, Irish, 7^th century[1]

In John 10, the Lord Jesus boldly claimed for Himself the identity of the promised Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34.10-31, an identity He fleshed out throughout the course of His ministry.

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and is known by them. He loves them, and they love Him, in a relationship of mutual trust and commitment.

The Good Shepherd leads His sheep, casting vision, setting goals, going before them, and encouraging them along the way into the green meadows and still waters of His own presence and power.

The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep, denying His own interests and security to serve and nurture those entrusted to His care.

The Good Shepherd defends the flock against the threats of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The Good Shepherd brings other sheep into the fold, by proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom and calling all people to repent and believe the Gospel.

And the Good Shepherd gives eternal life to the sheep, bringing them into and nurturing them in the grace of salvation and the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we are all under-shepherds (Jer. 23.14), and are being “moulded to the example” of our Good Shepherd, so that we relate to others as Jesus does to us. Our Good Shepherd has assigned us the duty of bearing one another’s burdens and building one another up in love (Gal. 6.1-10).

A shepherd’s first instinct is not for his own wellbeing, but for the sheep entrusted to his care. He will suffer hardship, inconvenience, and danger to take care of his flock. He watches each one carefully, looking “into the face” of his sheep, to determine their health and needs (Prov. 27.23), helping each one to maximum health and flourishing.

Just so, we are all called to deny ourselves and go the extra mile for our neighbor, for this is what Jesus has done for us. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus knows us, leads us, lays down His life for us, defends us against our foes, gives us eternal life, and brings other sheep to join us in His flock (cf. Jn. 10. 27, 3, 11, 12-13, 28, 16). As His under-shepherds, we must follow His example, and take up the work of shepherding with the people in our Personal Mission Field.

The work of shepherding God’s flock is grossly neglected in our day, as pastors and church leaders opt for market-driven, high-efficiency programs, rather than the ongoing hard work of disciple-making by shepherding. Yet it is by this means, as God makes clear in Ezekiel 34.10-31, that our Lord intends to bless and enrich His Church.

How shall we regain this important discipline in Jesus’ agenda for building His Church? One shepherd at a time, friends, one shepherd at a time, beginning with you and me.

Whom is God calling you to shepherd with His love today?

Psalm 23.1, 2 (The Gift of Love: Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire)
Because the Lord my Shepherd is, I shall not want, for I am His!
He makes me lie in pastures full; I rest in Him by waters still.

Lord, like Christ, Paul, and Patrick, use me to guard and nourish the people in my care with the teaching of Your Word and the sacrifice of my life. Adapted from Sechnall, Audite Omnes Amantes

Mission Partners Outreach
You can become an effective under-shepherd by identifying and working your Personal Mission Field. Our Mission Partners Outreach program can help. This 6-month training program is designed for you and a friend, working together through a series of videos, studies, and activities, to reach out to the people God sends you to each day with the love of Jesus. The program and materials are free, and you can learn more about it by clicking here.

Organizing with the Spirit
Dr. Kent Miller explains that the Spirit has His preferred ways of getting work done in the Kingdom, and we do well to learn from Him and follow His ways. Watch our Conversation with Dr. Miller on “Organizing with the Spirit” by clicking here.

Thank the Lord with us!
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T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.