The Shepherd’s Example (6)
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5.16
Spurgeon offered an important reminder to his students: “We are watched by a thousand eagle eyes; let us act so that we shall never need to care if all heaven, and earth, and hell, swelled the list of spectators. Our public position is a great gain if we are enabled to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in our lives; take heed, brethren, that you throw not away the advantage” (Lectures to My Students).
A shepherd has three tools to use in pursuing the work of ministry: the Word of God and prayer (Acts 6.4), and our own personal example (1 Pet. 5.1-3). If any of these is lacking, our ministry will suffer. We must always seek to improve in the use of each, as we shepherd the flock entrusted to our care.
The example of our lives being the most visible, we should pay special attention to it, lest we be caught off guard and, in our faltering, cause others to stumble. How shall we do that? Through time in the Word and in prayer, listening for the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
The important thing to remember is not only are we continuously being watched by the people we serve, and surrounded by a great company of witnesses who look upon us from the unseen realm, but God Himself looks upon us, to see if our lives are honoring to Him. If we honor God with our lives, He will bless the work we do. We must, therefore, constantly take heed to our lives, that we will bring forth the fruit of holiness—even when we think no one is watching.
Being disciples and making disciples
My conversations with Dr. Mike McQueen continue. Listen in to be renewed in your focus on being and making disciples. Click the link or the audio bar at the top of this column.
Resources for Shepherds
Here’s a quick look at our Fall Men’s Reading and Study Groups:
Men’s Reading Group (1): Praying with the Psalms (monthly)
Men’s Reading Group (2): Brad Edwards, Reason for the Church (bi-weekly)
The Lewis Group (1): God in the Dock (bi-weekly)
The Lewis Group (2): Weight of Glory (bi-weekly)
Men’s Bible Study: The Ongoing Work of Christ (bi-weekly)
The Writers’ Group: C. S. Lewis and the Art of Writing (bi-weekly)
Christian Classics for Discipleship: Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, Books 1 and 2 (bi-weekly)
For dates and more information, click here. We hope many of you will join us.
The Celtic Revival (ca 430-800 AD) is a neglected period of Church history. There is much to learn from the great saints and leaders whose work, over nearly four centuries, “saved civilization” (Thomas Cahill). Here are some free resources in our bookstore to help you discover why we think this period is worth revisiting:
Patrick: A Devotional History
Colum Cille: A Devotional History
Columbanus: A Devotional History
The Celtic Revival: A Brief Introduction
Lives of Irish Saints: A Tribute
Living to Rule: An Introduction to Celtic Christian Spirituality
The Theology of the Celtic Revival II: Foundations
From the Celtic Revival
Brendan of Clonfert (fl. ca. 560 AD):
[A]nd when the abbot began to recite a verse the choir responded humbly, and none of them dared to recite a single verse except the abbot himself; and none spoke without permission, except when they were praising the Lord, unless the abbot permitted; and even then they did not speak in words, but by making it known by some intelligible sign with eye, or lip, or hand, to indicate what they desired to say. And the abbot would write on a tablet with a style every answer he gave them.
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfeert
“But the LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
– Habakkuk 2.20
There’s not much silence in our Christian lives these days. But silence has its advantages, as I discussed in the edition of Crosfigell that began with these quotes. You can read the rest of the essay by clicking here.
Follow Brendan’s adventure of faith—which, while certainly historical, is in many ways a parable for every believer’s journey in the Lord. Add our twice-weekly Crosfigell teaching letter to your subscriptions.
Men, have you ever thought you might like to know more about The Fellowship of Ailbe? Who we are and what we do? Click the “About” tab on our home page. Watch the brief video there and read about our purpose and projects. If you’re interested in thinking about Membership in The Fellowship, simply drop me a line at [email protected].
T. M. Moore
If you have found this issue of Pastor to Pastor helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” turns to consider the work we’ve been given to do. In our Read Moore column, we continue working through the book, Understanding the Times. And I encourage you to follow our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert, nicknamed “The Navigator.” Join us and find out why. Click the Articles tab on the home page to see all the selections available to you.
Support for Pastor to Pastor comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
