The Sheep That Comfort the Shepherd

1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

In seminary and throughout the Christian environment, we that feel God's call to ministry are often told what God expects of us as shepherds of his flock. We are told that our responsibility is to guide, nurture, protect and love our flock.

With this being said, are there times in which the shepherd feels alone and needs guided, nurtured, protected and loved by the flock? In God's Holy Word we see Jesus tell Peter three times to take care of his sheep, and we see this as a powerful statement for those that are called to the ministry of shepherding a flock.

In the text from 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-14, I point out three words that sum up the responsibility of the sheep to the shepherd.

1. Urge: God wishes the sheep to remember the one whom he has called to serve.
2. Encourage: As the shepherd feeds the sheep, so the sheep are to provide the food of encouragement to the shepherd.
3. Patient: When the day is done, the sheep must remember that the shepherd is human with all of the frailties and failings that exist in humanity.

My prayer for all of us this week:

• Take Time to nurture those who nurture us
• Urge them with compassion
• Encourage them with love and respect.
• Be Patient with them in their time of human failings.

As a people made anew through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us keep our relationship with Christ new, fresh, and vibrant while comforting his shepherds. Acknowledge the moments in which God has placed you at the right time and in the right place.

Pastor Tim