Are We
God’s Shepherds and God’s Sheep?
By Tim Childs
2/03/06
Through the years fairy tales have been used to entertain small children; at
other times they have been used effectively to make an impression upon a young,
developing mind by way of an “illustration” or, better put, “fictitious
story.” One such fairy tale is “Little Red Riding Hood.” You may
recall how that the little girl eventually ended up at her grandmother’s house
for a visit. But, upon her arrival she quizzed the one in her
grandmother’s bed because her features were so uncharacteristic of one she knew
as her real grandmother; the voice, the ears, the eyes, the nose, and teeth. “You are not my grandmother…you are a
wolf.” Rightfully so, she ran, she cried, she screamed for help because
she was in danger.
You and I do not have to appeal to fairy tales to know the features and true
qualities of both shepherds and sheep. Although we live in a culture that
is removed from the shepherd/sheep concept, we can understand the
characteristics thereof by examining the Scriptures and looking to the life of
the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4) or “good shepherd” (John 10:11). Please read John 10:1-18.
God’s shepherds do not have fangs, nor do his sheep. Shepherds do not
growl or hiss at the sheep.
God’s shepherds have a focus or emphasis upon the sheep…tending, feeding,
nurturing, protecting, rather than a focus on one’s self and the glory he
thinks he should receive because of his “stature” as shepherd.
God’s shepherds “smell like the sheep” because they are continually among them
as they feed, nurture and provide care.
God’s shepherds do not use their staff to hit the sheep in the head even if the
shepherd is having the “worst day of his life.” Because God’s shepherds love
God’s sheep, as a rule they are gentle rather than harsh and abrasive.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7, “Nor
of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have
been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even
as a nurse cherisheth her children...”
Sometimes a course of discipline may need to be exercised, but its design is to
restore rather than destroy the life of the sheep.
God’s shepherds are out ahead of the flock as they lead, knowing they cannot
“lead from behind.” God’s shepherds know the way…they know where they are
going. They lead the sheep forward toward the goal, rather than turning
them in an “about face” to tread upon the ground to
feed them where the pasture has already been depleted.
God’s shepherds are not in the “shepherding business” for themselves or for the
exercise of power and control (of the Lord’s people, or the Lord’s money).
God’s shepherds are never interested in a political “grab for power” nor do
they rule “with an iron fist.”
God’s shepherds and God’s sheep must love and cooperate, working together to
accomplish the greatest cause.