Feed the Sheep

Over the last several days I've been reading through Ezekiel as part of my personal bible study. The constant theme of judgment has given me much to consider in regard to God's sovereignty and power over nations and people. Today the application was much more direct and convicting to me in a personal way because it concerns the call to pastor the people of God. The context here is Israel, but I don't think it's a stretch to see the same expectations for those like myself who have been called to pastor the New Testament Church.

In Ezekiel chapter 34 God is condemning the spiritual leaders of Israel for not shepherding the people as they were called to do. Instead of serving and giving their lives for the well being of God's people, the shepherds were serving themselves and getting fat at the people's expense. Here is a portion of God's judgments against them:

"Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them."

Like the spiritual leaders over Israel, pastors have been called to shepherd the Church of Christ. Jesus commanded Peter to feed His sheep and every pastor carries the same responsibility to care for God's people just as Christ himself would do. Being reminded of this; I can't help but recognize the many areas in which I have failed to care for the sheep, sometimes even making justification for my negligence.

Have I worked hard to strengthen the weak believers? Have I prayed for the sick? Have I shown compassion for the hurting? Have I pursued the rebelling Christian not content to watch them walk away from Christ. Have I earnestly sought out the lost with the Gospel? I know that only Christ is the Good and Perfect shepherd and I will never be all that He is for the sheep, but I also can see areas where my heart needs to change and I need to get to work caring for the sheep entrusted to me in a better way. By God's grace I don't want to fail to fulfill God's call for my life to feed His sheep and serve them well.