Keep Your Staff Close By

I love Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of Acts: 20:28 in The Message: "Now it's up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God's people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for." 

This has been one of my life verses, specifically in reference to my ministry career.  You can scan the scriptures time and time again and will probably not find any other verses that sum up the responsibility of a pastor with such clarity and simplicity; and that's why I'm sharing this with you today.

Leading Life Groups is a unique ministry because of the responsibility you have of shepherding a specific group of people.  During the course of a week you may makes plans, study a bit, schedule and prepare for your discussions.  You might even be the one that provides the food and even the sets up the meeting place for the group.  You might send out weekly emails, make phone calls and pray for each member of your group.  But regardless of the details and various activities that consume your time and effort, none should ever take the priority of simply shepherding the people that God has given you to watch over.

I write these words not to overwhelm you, but to encourage you.  Most of you heard Randy's message this Sunday and his words regarding the significance of the people that God sends to cross our paths during the course of each day.  He spoke of the selfless attitude that each of us need to have toward others in our lives, and that when it all said and done, it really has nothing to do with "us".  When we look at Christ's example, life and ministry, we see that He emulated these qualities in every aspect of His life.  In referring to Himself as the "Good Shepherd" in John 10:11, He shows how a shepherd loves and cares for his sheep, to the point that he would willingly lay down his life for their protection.

Remember one thing this week:  You are not only a leader, but a shepherd of God's people.  Let that excite you!  Let that sink deep within the recesses of your soul as you meditate on this foundational principle of what you do.  It's up to you!  God has graciously given you a group of people that you have the blessing of shepherding each and every week. 

What will you do with the precious time you have with these people?  Will you guard and protect them?  Will you love them unconditionally and lead them in impacting and changing the cultures that each of you are a part of?  Will you sacrifice for them, regardless of the cost?  Will you give them ALL you have? 

Will you "shepherd" them?  It's up to you.