The Shepherd's Staff 6-18-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me listen; help me hear. Help me be quiet enough to sense the leading of Your voice. ... You are the Good Shepherd. You care for Your flock and tend to our needs. You know when to make us lie down and when to lead us beside the still waters. You bind up our wounds and free us from our snares. You defend us from those who would destroy us, and You lay down Your life for Your sheep (Psalm 23; John 10.11). Then You call us to feed and nurture one another as Your disciples -- learning from Your ways and following the leading of Your voice (John 21.15-19). Some may tend flocks of thousands, some may tend to the needs of one or two; but throughout the seasons of our lives and throughout our spheres of influence, we are all called to learn and lead in the way of our Good Shepherd. Because You have a Shepherd's heart and You want us to have Your heart, Your heart is broken and Your wrath is kindled against the shepherds who fail to lovingly tend their flocks. To express Your fury at the destruction of Your people who were not shepherded in faithfulness to Your leading, You told the prophet Zechariah to "be a shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter" to reveal the heart of a "worthless shepherd who deserts the flock." Through him, You would demonstrate the leadership of "a shepherd who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones" (Zechariah 11.4-17). You spoke of two staffs of leadership in the shepherd's hands -- the staff of Favor and the staff of Unity. Broken, these two staffs became "the implements of a worthless shepherd" (Zechariah 11.14). As the flock of Your pasture, You desire us to receive and give the favor of Your grace. When we take without giving and turn selfishly to ourselves, the staff of Favor is broken. You desire that we love one another and encouraged one another. When we give in to division and strife, contentiousness and envy, the staff of Unity is broken. Forgive us, Lord. Restore to us the heart of the Good Shepherd. Place again in our hands Your staffs of Favor and Unity. Then even though we walk through the darkest and deepest valleys, we will know that You lead us through as we learn Your ways -- Your rod and Your staff will comfort us (Psalm 23.4). In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!