How Am I As a Shepherd?

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with his own blood.” –Acts 20:28 (ESV).  “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight; not under compulsion , but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.  Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” -1 Peter 5:2-5 (ESV).

I’ve been reading a thought-provoking book by Mary Foxwell Loeks entitled Named by God:  Discovering the Power of God’s Names for You (Grand Rapids: Revell, c2010).  I feel a kinship with Ms. Loeks and her writings, for she, likes (as I) to pursue ideas and give devotionals on a word or a thought.  And her Named by God has a meditation  about us as both “sheep” and “shepherd”.  To be named as “sheep” shows our dependence on God, as the sheep is dependent on the shepherd.  But what we seldom think about is the more responsible name God also gives us—that of shepherd.  Because sheep are so prone to be helpless, hapless and hard-headed, they need a leader, a shepherd, who can guide, provide and held them be secure.  It’s like the poet has said, we may be “the only Bible the careless world will read.”  We, as Christians, are a shepherd to some. 

I remembered back to my childhood when my father, a good farmer, went through a period of raising sheep.  My grandfather, Bud Collins, also raised sheep.  From the flocks the wool was gathered, cleaned, carded, spun and woven into warm blankets and knitted into socks, sweaters, scarves and other clothing items to protect us.  During the time of my father’s sheep-raising, he gave me a newborn lamb and told me that it was mine to feed and nourish.  Like the familiar nursery rhyme, “And everywhere that Mary went, that lamb was sure to go!” held true of my pet lamb, Fluffy.  I loved that lamb and she loved me.  I could hardly wait to get home from Choestoe School, a mile walk, to cuddle my little lamb and care for it.  As it grew older, it grew more mischievous, probably because I had spoiled it so.  Eventually, when Fluffy was grown up, she was sold along with other sheep from  my father’s flock.  I missed her.  But maybe that early care of a lamb—my job as a shepherd to her—helped prepare me for some of the later experiences of my life.

I had a wonderful husband, the Rev. Grover Jones, who was what Peter writes about in 1 Peter 5 as a “shepherd of the flock.”  And I, likewise, felt a God-calling to be a caring, loving, teaching member of our shepherding team.  What a privilege!  We are under-shepherds because the Chief Shepherd has given us our own to care for, and called us to the task of spiritual mentors.  We read in Hebrews 13:20-21, that we are to “equip ourselves with everything good for doing His will…be pleasing to Him…and give Him glory forever and ever.” 

How is our shepherding of those to whom we are spiritual mentors?  Peter emphasizes in the focal passage that one who shepherds another is to be an example and is to lead humbly.  These admonitions give us pause for thought, and call for self-examination.  -Ethelene Dyer Jones  07.27.2014

What Would You Say to Fellow Christians in a Farewell Address?

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” –Acts 20:32 (ESV)  [Read Acts 20;17-17-38]

The context of our focal scripture verse for today is Paul the Apostle’s farewell address in the seaport town of Miletus in Ephesus as he had called the elders and other Christians together to bid them farewell.  In this speech, Paul referred to his own ministry among them as an example.  He was not boasting but rather appealing to the Christians to be faithful and to hold steadfastly to the teachings and doctrines he had taught them and lived out in his own life.  At this point he had “set his face steadfastly toward Jerusalem,” where those diametrically opposed to the Christian faith and the spread of the gospel awaited to accuse and arrest him.  Paul knew this appearance would likely be the last he had with the Ephesian Christians.  He wanted to give them directions and lessons they could hold onto and live by.  He invited them to observe his example and live as he had lived in a steadfast manner (20:18-21).  He spoke of future prospects for himself and the church, declaring that he had been faithful to deliver the message Christ had given him to preach, and he wanted the Ephesian brethren to do the same (20:22-27).  He warned them to be aware of false doctrines and coming heresies (20:28-31).  He encouraged them to have a proper attitude toward material goods, helping the weak and putting more priority on giving than on receiving (20:32-35).  Then came the tearful goodbye and his departure for the rest of the trip to Jerusalem (20:36-38).

What would you say to your fellow Christians if you knew it would be the last time you might teach a Sunday School lesson, your last opportunity to address any of your fellow Christians?  We don’t normally like to think about any situation being our “last,”  or our final opportunity to encourage Christians to be steadfast and immovable, abounding in the grace of God.  It’s sad to think about “last opportunities,” last times to admonish and encourage. But we know this could happen any time, in the twinkling of an eye.

Being a part of a pastor’s family  I have in the past had opportunities to hear my preacher husband give his last sermon to a congregation.  I myself have had occasion to teach the last lesson to a particular Sunday School class.  On June 1, 2014, I  heard my son, the Rev. Keith Jones, preach his last sermon as pastor to the congregation at Morganton Baptist Church as he retired after being in professional Christian work for forty-four years.  A very touching part of that service was son Keith calling two young men from his congregation who had been led to the Lord under his ministry and had just returned from a volunteer mission trip to Peru.  They gave their testimonies of work there and of having the privilege of seeing sixty people come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The message was strong that the work of preaching, witnessing and missions would go on, for others had been disciple to continue the work of witnessing, preaching and teaching.

Saying goodbye in situations where a minister or teacher has worked faithfully are both happy and sad.  Happiness emanates from the opportunities for service with any given group, whether a congregation or a Sunday School class.  But sadness occurs when the one leaving realizes that this may be the last time to drive home an important lesson while leaving those beloved Christians with a positive thought and an avid anticipation that there is more yet ahead for the faithful.  Maybe, as with Paul at Miletus in Ephesus long ago, the people will remember the person and his example more than his farewell address.  For we know how true the adage is:  “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.”  Unless the practice supercedes the proclamation and stands as a lofty example of “do as I do,”  then the words are of little effect.  Paul was right on target with his farewell address (Acts 20:32):  “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”   Amen!  --Ethelene Dyer Jones  06.29.2014