A Good Shepherd

For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock!” Zechariah 11:16-17

I’ve been thinking about those who lead God’s people. The call to Kingdom leaders, from Moses to David to Peter has always been to be a good shepherd. Jesus described himself as The Good Shepherd, and those of us who have the privilege to serve as under-shepherds must do our best to embrace His concern for His sheep, and to never take that responsibility lightly.

This verse in Zechariah describes a wicked shepherd—the kind of person Israel was going to get in their rebellion, but who is the exact opposite of the type of shepherd God really wants to assign to lead His people. If we turn the passage around, we discover the kind of leader God is looking for:

1. A shepherd who will care for the lost.

2. A shepherd who will seek the young.

3. A shepherd who will heal the injured.

4. A shepherd who will feed the healthy.

This week I’m going to be writing on this blog about these four things. But it’s not just intended for the “professional pastors” (I hate that term). This is an encouragement to all of us who care deeply for God’s people. In some sense, though there is, for some, a legitimate and unique call to leadership, we recognize that every one of us is invited to provide a pastoral and priestly role in the lives of others as ministers of reconciliation, servants to one another, and brothers and sisters in a family where we lay our lives down for each-other.

Tomorrow: A shepherd who will care for the lost!