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by Sandy Shaw
These are such precious and treasured words in John Chapter 10 and verse 11, where Jesus Christ the son of God says, “I am the Good Shepherd”. Now, this implies that around us there are good shepherds and bad shepherds – true shepherds and false shepherds.
Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd and the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.
In the church of Jesus Christ, how far must the shepherd be prepared to go in caring for the sheep and protecting the sheep – in leading the sheep – in seeing and ensuring that the sheep are properly fed and watered? How far? Jesus teaches that he has to be prepared to lay down his life.
If the sheep are yours, you will go to any lengths to see that wolves or bears or lions do not get through to touch and maul and harm and wound and kill them.
Now, let’s remember that in the church, Jesus Christ appoints shepherds, or pastors, or elders. All these words have the same meaning – they are interchangeable. There are cautionary warning words in Peter’s letter that a man should not rush into being a teacher.
Here is Jesus speaking about good shepherds and bad shepherds – true shepherds and false shepherds.
If the calling of God is upon the shepherd – if the love of Jesus Christ is in the heart of the shepherd to care for and feed the sheep – and if the anointing of the Holy Spirit is upon the shepherd – he will be willing to go to any lengths to care for and guard and feed and lead and protect the sheep, which are under his care. But, if any one is only it for the prestige – the position – the reputation – then as soon as some really wild animals come along – such a shepherd will be off.
Shepherds, all good and true leaders, in the Church of Jesus Christ have to be prepared to go as far down the road of sacrifice as they are called to, and many around the world find that to be a very high cost.
We are called to give that which is costly, and at the times the price can be demanding. That is why we should be very slow to criticise a shepherd in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Wolves and bears and lions can be fierce when they attack, and we have to know that there is a shepherd who wards off the ravaging beast and guards and protects each sheep and lamb in the fold.
This is one of the ways by which the shepherd pleases the Father.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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