The Shepherd

I recently heard a pastor in London tell the following story of a trip that he took to Israel. The tour was about to visit the area of Bethlehem, and the tour guide told the people about shepherding. And he said that the shepherds often walk in front of the sheep, and they speak gently to the sheep -- and the sheep follow the voices of their shepherds. When the people got off the bus in one of the fields in Bethlehem they saw a flock of sheep running past, and behind the flock was a man with a stick hitting the sheep to get them moving. The tourists got back on the bus and started to tease the tour guide regarding his understanding of shepherding. He smiled, and said, "That was not the shepherd, that was the butcher!"

The Apostle Peter tells elders that they should "not be domineering over those in your charge, but be examples to your flock" (1 Peter 5:3). Indeed, may our elders not be butchers, but true shepherds of the flock of Jesus Christ!