Got Flock?

[S] 1 Peter 5:2 --
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

[O] One cannot be a shepherd without any sheep.  God showed me how to shepherd others through Jesus Christ's example of His earthly ministry and wants me to follow that (just like how Jesus told Peter to tend His sheep).  I need to ask the question of who are in my flock?

[A] Got flock?  Before answering this question I must ask myself how I'm doing to gather this flock.  I need to be more intentional to gather them to care for them.

[P] Dear Father, please show me like-minded church planters to plant a church which models after this as the core -- 100% caring for others into God's flock.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Old, Dry Bones Is Not The End

[S] Ezekiel 37:11 --
 ¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.

[O] This explanation of the dry bones being put together to an exceedingly great army describes how God desires to be our hope especially when we're up against detrimental situations of shattered dreams.  After the Israelites rebelled far away from God's ways and ended up in the exact condition God warned them -- nation like old, dry bones without any hope -- God still provides hope through Ezekiel about how God wants to put His Spirit and bring life back to His people so that they would declare His as their God.  This well-known "dry bones" passage is nothing other than God's pursuing us to give us the life that we don't deserve in order that His name would be raised up by His people.

[A] My heart is very much humbled before God's unending love to pursue even when I would totally mess up.  This is the type of a God I'm serving.  Whatever I do, especially in the name of doing His ministry, I need to stay totally humble because I don't deserve any of credit (which my heart desires to gain).  Additionally, as a father to my children, I need to learn more about what it means to exercise such an unending love toward them not based on their achievements but so that they would one day truly recognize the love of God that passes to them through me.

[P] Dear God, may I continue focus my eyes on You and especially as a father teach me to shepherd their hearts  patiently waiting for them reach the point of recognizing the amazing love of God reaching to them through their parents regardless of what courses of life they may go through.  In the end may it be You who shine through their lives; and may I be the one who would influence them to reach that place sooner than later.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

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.

Who Raises Up Shepherds?

[S] Jeremiah 23:4 --
 ⁴"I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.

[O] Looking at verses 5-6 this "shepherds" are referring to the people of Jesus Christ who is the true Good Shepherd.  And in light of this, I'm very encouraged by this verse because as we've just started the small group leaders (who we call Shepherds) training, I feel as though God has put this message just for me to read -- that He will raise up shepherds for our small group ministry to tend the members while not being afraid or terrified and dedicated.  Another reminder that God is in control.

[A] We still have many areas to work in and many times I feel like I'm way over my head but God's encouragement like today's gets me up and going again because in the end I need to trust Him and His power in the midst of us.  It ain't gonna be mine (or the leadership team's) efforts that is going to make the impact but His power as it says in Isaiah 55:8-9.

[P] Dear God, You are simply awesome and know exactly where I am now.  Thank You for encouraging me to move forward in Your ministry.  Bring speak to everyone involved in the ministry so we'll be encouraged from You as the source and not only from one another.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The Third Captain's Heart of Shepherd

[S] 2 Kings 1:13-15 --

¹³So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, "O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.

¹⁴"Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight."

¹⁵The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king.

[O] This was the third captain of 50 soldiers to approach Elijah to invite him to King Ahaziah. I give a lot of credit to this captain and the fifty soldiers because they clearly knew what had happened to the previous two sets of soldiers sent before them -- fire from heaven consumed them up -- and yet they went to Elijah anyways and begged Elijah to consider their lives precious. I see the combination of boldness, courage along with humbleness. Knowing when to be bold and when to be humble is deadly effective in living a wise life. I also gleaned from this passage the insight of how the preciousness of life is the lifeblood of any ministry, especially a small group ministry. Additionally, the shepherding heart of this captain shined through because he was most interested in saving the precious lives (including his own). In our small group ministry we need to approach with the likemindedness of requesting (to the point of begging) God to consider each of our lives as precious and show His mercy showering us with His grace.

[A] As we lay the structure of our small group ministry, keep the "preciousness of each lives" at the center and not lose focus in the midst of the organizations or infrastructural busy-ness.

[P] Thank You, God, for considering me precious in Your eyes through the cross that Jesus Christ bore for me. May I be reminded of this fact and live my life with humility and submission to You as I approach the small group ministry at church. Please let me not forget how You consider each member to be so precious. May I also approach with the shepherd's heart like this third captain of the fifty soldiers. In Jesus' name. Amen.