GOD’S KIND OF SHEPHERD

REFERENCE: Psalms 78:72 He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.

Observation: This verse speaks to what a leader among the flock of God ought to be like. It is a matter of our hearts (our character and motivation) and our skill. Too many pastor/leaders feel like one or the other is enough. It is in having both that we can be effective.

As leaders we need to have a heart first for God. He needs to be the one we follow, serve and pursue with all that we are. Then, and only in second place, we must have a heart for people. God does not respect those leaders who serve just to be recognized or to make money. The only motivation God values is when we serve out of love for His people. He expects us to “grieve with those who grieve and rejoice with those who rejoice”; to give people our hearts and not just our time.

Still, it is not enough to just have the right heart. That is essential but we need more, as leaders, we must cultivate skill. We need to read, study, seek out mentors, take classes, we must do anything is takes to be fully skilled in the most important job anyone can have; caring for people’s souls. Don’t listen to the voices that suggest that if you have the right heart, the skill doesn’t matter. Also, don’t listen to those voices that would say that if you have the skill, having the right heart/motivation doesn’t matter. We need both.