USE YOUR STAFF

Friday, May 4    USE YOUR STAFF

1 John 3:18

"My dear children, let's not just talk about love, let's practice real love.  This is the only way we'll know we're living truly; living in God's reality."

    A Shepherd cannot tend the flock from a far off post and then use a microphone or megaphone to yell directions at the sheep.  The key tool for a Shepherd is the staff: a tool that implies action, not just talk; a tool that suggests getting intimate among the sheep.  

     People are like sheep in many ways.  "Instead of just words, people respond best to someone who is willing to come beside them and offer a helping hand, a listening ear, or a hug." (Susan Reed, d365.org) To shepherd means a willingness to get involved in the lives of the sheep.  How often do we want to shepherd with megaphone or wallet - a quick word of advice and a dollar slipped in here and there - such "action" doesn't demand much investment, our 'staff' doesn't get dirty!  Our shepherding love will mean so much more if it is shown with actions, not just words.  Listen to the sheep.  Hear their concerns.  Work beside them.  Shepherd using the staff.  Shepherd AMONG the sheep.  

Being a missional church in community has a lot in common with shepherding our flock of sheep.   Being missional is working AMONG the sheep.  How are we doing?  What are we doing?  Maybe we need to know our sheep better.     That could be step one.  

MORE SHEEP

I know yesterday was "technically" our Missional community devotion day, but I have been caught up in the Sheep imagery all week (and lacking anything more strenuous to occupy my time....).  I especially found the closing prayer in today's message thought provoking:  "God, you have given me a perfect example to follow. While I cannot live up to that example, help me to desire to try. Help me see myself as a shepherd of your love for the world. Amen." Read on....


Thursday, May 3    Shepherd Love
1 John 3:16-17
"This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us.  This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves...."  (The Message)

    To be a good Shepherd means to put the needs of the flock ahead of our own. It involves sacrifice.  It means diligently tending the flock and not running off and neglecting them.  Even if we don't always LIKE some of the flock....or they hold different views from ours.  I must tend to some gay sheep in my flock?  Some Arab sheep?  We often get caught up in judging the value of the sheep first.  Christ set the example of Shepherding. If we see each sheep as our extension of Christ's love....if we see LOVE in each sheep, our sacrifice will come, our actions will be right.  If we Shepherd Love, rather than sheep, we will come much closer to acting as Christ in our broken world.  








Wednesday, May 2    One Flock
John 10:16-18
"You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen.  I need to gather and bring them too.  they'll also recognize my voice." (The Message)
     At the heart of yesterday's devotion was the message that God calls me by name - individually.  He knows ME inside and out.  It would be easy to think of this as a one-on-one exclusive relationship - a personal Big Brother and Shepherd.  But Jesus goes on to remind us there are other sheep also. 
     Other sheep?  What? I have to share?  Does God/Christ love that funny-looking sheep over there just as much as me?  If that sheep has lots of problems, will the Shepherd have time for me?  Those sheep are different from me.  Are you sure they recognize the same shepherd's voice?  They hear it differently.  We have to live together in the same pen?  In harmony?  
     We love the thought of a unique individual faith with God.  We don't always handle sharing our pen, or our God, as well with those who hear the same voice, but in a different way.  How do we learn to live together in the flock?  Watch and listen to the Good Shepherd.  Copy him.  He's pretty good at loving ALL the sheep.  

Sheep and Shepherds!

I am home "laying low" and getting bored, so I shall share a little.  I spent the morning drawing!

Tuesday, May 1   The Shepherd Relationship
John 10:14-15
"I am the Good Shepherd.  I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me.  In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary."  (The Message)

     At the heart of Shepherding is a reciprocal relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep.  We easily understand the first part: our Shepherd takes care of us and knows us by name - individually.  Not as a number or as part of the whole flock, but as us...alone.  It is a great big universe out there with lots of sheep.  To think that God doesn't look out and see a massive flock, but sees and knows each of us as a unique individual - that is mind blowing.  What a sense of overpowering love flows from that realization!
     But how easily do we often neglect the second part of the relationship: my sheep know me.  We must listen and recognize God's voice when he calls to us, when he tries to gather us in as we stray.  We often get confused with conflicting voices telling us what to do.  If we live in our Shepherd/Sheep relationship, we'll recognize God's voice among the crowd and seek him only.
     By name, by voice....live in the love of the Shepherd Relationship.

Monday, April 30   Fair-Weather Shepherds
John 10:11-13

"A hired man is not a real shepherd.  The sheep mean nothing to him.  He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf."  (The Message)
     We all know or have known "Fair-weather" friends - those who are with you when life is fun and exciting, when the going is smooth, but run for the exit when things heat up and get tough. They are gone, like the hired hand, when the wolf comes - just when you could really use their help!
     But not our Shepherd, Christ.  Our Good Shepherd will be there for us.  He's no "fly by night" hired hand.  Shepherding is hard work, but God/Jesus love us so much, they will be there.  No matter what.  No matter when.
     What kind of Shepherd am I to those within my care?  Am I a friend that stands firm when the wolf of illness, divorce, financial difficulties comes?  Do I show the love of Christ in my relationships with others?  I want to be known as a Good Shepherd, not a hired hand!