Thursday, December 18, 2014

THE SUPREME STANDARD FOR SHEPHERDS

 


The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  (Psalm 23:1)

God is the only perfect Shepherd.  His leading the flock is flawless.  His feeding the sheep is peerless.  Christ’s bleeding for the lambs is matchless.  He described Himself in terms of the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down His life for the sheep.  Now, I am called by His Spirit to look to that supreme standard and by His grace to follow Him in shepherding His flock.  Though, in my flesh, I will never attain such success, but aiming at it, I will at least be heading in the right direction.  Perfection is not achievable, but progression toward the goal is.  Concentrating on the gravity of my accountability to God for discharging my duty drives me to Him—the Shepherd who indwells me—Who can do through me what I could never do myself.  The author of this Psalm knew something about shepherding—real sheep and God’s people.  David didn’t always get it right, but he was faithful.  “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” (Psalm 78:72)  David had a heart of integrity and hands of ability.  In this, he imitated his God. May I seek as a pastor to be a shepherd who follows the example of the Lord our Shepherd!

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