"My anger burns against the shepherds and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock" (Zech. 10:3). (Google image, Preacher)
You as shepherd are always responsible to God for the condition of His flock and of His individual sheep. God is the Great and Sovereign Shepherd, and you are an under-shepherd directly responsible to God.
Zechariah pronounces a special woe on a shepherd who deserts his flock. "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts his flock!" (Zech. 11:17). A shepherd does not have the same right to flee from danger that an ordinary person does.
The captain has no right to abandon his ship as long as there is one passenger in danger. A policeman has no right to flee from a criminal when he is endangering people. The police are responsible to die in the line of duty if need be while protecting others.
A parent has no right to desert his child in the face of danger. A shepherd has no right to desert his flock when danger comes. When the armed temple police came to Gethsemane, Jesus faced them and told them to leave His disciple alone. (John 18:4-8).
UNFAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
Ezekiel 34:1-10 is a prophecy on the accountability of the shepherd leaders of Israel. God pronounces woe on them for their failures.
1. They take care of themselves rather than the flock. They are more concerned with their personal interests and the welfare of their own families than with the welfare of God's people.
"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care
of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the
flock?" (Ezek 34:2).
2. They get their living from the flock but are not adequately concerned for the flock. "You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals but you do not take care of the flock" (v.4).
3. They fail to give sufficient care to the weak, the sick, and the wounded. "You have not strengthened the weak of healed the sick or bound up the injured" (v. 4).
4. They have failed to restore backsliders and to evangelize the unsaved. "You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost" (v. 4).
5. They have been harsh and unsympathetic with the people." You have ruled them harshly and brutally" (v. 4).
6. They are to blame that the flock is scattered. "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd" (v.5). When a shepherd does not truly shepherd his congregation, the people suffer spiritually and many drop out and are scattered.
7. God will hold shepherds accountable for what happens to the flock. The condition of the flock is the direct responsibility of the shepherd.
"O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD. This is what
the Sovereign LORD says: 'I am against the shepherds
and will hold them accountable for my flock' " (vv. 9-10).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.
Ablaze for God
#46 The Shepherd's Accountability
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 153-155) ZondervanPublishingHouse
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| Prayer for local church |
As You are the Sovereign Shepherd, and they are the under-shepherds, they answer to You directly.
Help us pray for our shepherds, that they'll not fail to care for our spiritual needs, as well as some special needs, and that they'll not be guilty of neglecting us.
We pray for them to call on You for direction, grace and wisdom to lead their congregations in submission to You.
In Jesus' name we pray, the One who is our Sovereign Shepherd. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
Eph. 3:20,21 (NIV) "Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
(21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Rom. 15:13 (AMP) "May the God of your hope so fill
you with all joy and peace in believing [through the
experience of your faith] that by the power of the
Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing
(bubbling over) with hope.)"
Rom. 1:16 (KJV) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek."
Today's question-
Have you found your true identity?
Have you wondered why you are even here? What about God's plans for you? are you even interested in His thoughts about you?
As we need God's power to give the truth to others as Christians, it's important that we spend time in his presence, and receive His love and directions through prayer and reading His Word.
Our being willing to be changed into Christ's image, makes us available for God's working in our "identity," and to cause us to become all He desires for us.
When we are leaders, and know we'll be held accountable for what we do, or fail to do, may we submit to the Lord in daily times of refreshment, so we will hear Christ say, "Good and faithful servant" when we meet Him some day!
Eph. 3:20,21 (NIV) "Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
(21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Rom. 15:13 (AMP) "May the God of your hope so fill
you with all joy and peace in believing [through the
experience of your faith] that by the power of the
Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing
(bubbling over) with hope.)"
Rom. 1:16 (KJV) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek."
Today's question-
Have you found your true identity?
Have you wondered why you are even here? What about God's plans for you? are you even interested in His thoughts about you?
As we need God's power to give the truth to others as Christians, it's important that we spend time in his presence, and receive His love and directions through prayer and reading His Word.
Our being willing to be changed into Christ's image, makes us available for God's working in our "identity," and to cause us to become all He desires for us.
When we are leaders, and know we'll be held accountable for what we do, or fail to do, may we submit to the Lord in daily times of refreshment, so we will hear Christ say, "Good and faithful servant" when we meet Him some day!
Les Brown- “Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality.”
Lao Tzu- “I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.”
Today's popular post-
Upcoming posts-
Self-Discipline: The Missing Element in Christianity
21st- Saturday's post by James H. Cagle
#47 Questions You Will Face Before God
24th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#48 Your Accountability as a Leader, Part 1
26th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Restored Failures
28th- Saturday's post by James H. Cagle
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