Don't Miss the Spirit of Shepherding

[S] Ezekiel 34:4 --
 ⁴"Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.

[O] The Shepherds of Israel really didn't do their job -- or should I say their heart was not in the right place to serve as the Shepherds of God's people.  The sheep by nature are weak, can get sick easily, helpless, gets lost easily (and can't find their way back) and the key role of a shepherd is to complement these and be there for them to take care of them.  However, not only the Shepherds of Israel neglected to do these, they ruled over them harshly and abused them.  This seems so cruel and unfair.

[A] This description from such a long time ago is very much related to our current times because many of today's shepherds God has charged are not too far from it not because they are necessarily seeking evil but because they didn't catch the heart of the Good Shepherd.  Without first understanding what a Good Shepherd desires the duty of shepherding can easily become just a job.  I need to focus and re-focus on God's shepherding heart for His people such that when I am participating in ministry I would not lose the ultimate purpose as a good shepherd.

[P] Dear God, please continue to pour into my heart the right focus to serve Your people in Your ministry whether it's at my home, church, or workplace because it matters to You greatly.  Thank You for setting the wonderful example through Jesus Christ for me to follow.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.