The Work of Shepherds (4)

Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119.97

The Book of Pastoral Rule
Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604)
“But all this is duly executed by a ruler, if, inspired by the spirit of heavenly fear and love, he meditate daily on the precepts of Sacred Writ, that the words of Divine admonition may restore in him the power of solicitude and of provident circumspection with regard to the celestial life, which familiar intercourse with men destroys; and that one who is drawn to oldness of life by secular society may by the aspiration of compunction be ever renewed to love of the spiritual country.”

Pastors need daily time for meditating on Scripture, apart from any of their work of preaching and teaching. It often happens that a pastor’s time in the Word becomes so commingled with his preparations that he fails to hear the voice of God speaking to his own soul. His time in Scripture lacks the personal focus he needs to keep growing in the Lord. Consequently, what he offers the flock of God will be little more than information, without much in the way of transformation. We must ever renew our vision of the unseen realm, and listen in silence as the Spirit, using the Word, teaches us what we must do to further prepare for our journey to eternal glory.

How would you explain your practice of meditating on Scripture to one just embarking on pastoral ministry?

T. M. Moore

Mission Partners Outreach
The Lord calls all His sheep to be His witnesses, but being a witness for Christ doesn’t just happen. The flock of the Lord must be equipped for this calling, and Jesus has set shepherds over the flock to do that work. How can we equip the sheep to live for Christ and be His witnesses? Our Mission Partners Outreach provides the resources and framework for making witness-bearing disciples in your church. Want to learn how it works? Watch this brief video, then contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from Gregory,The Book of Pastoral Rule,in Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 12(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1895, 1995).