“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep.” ~ John 10:14-15 (ESV)

Last month we started the conversation on the sheep-shepherd relationship with Jesus as our shepherd, and not just any kind of shepherd but a GOOD shepherd as He stated in the verse above. This then brought us to question if there are bad shepherds…and sure enough there are. But before diving into good vs. bad shepherds, let’s make this a little more relevant to our present-day society.

In 1 Peter 5:1-3, Peter uses this same shepherding language when addressing the elders and leaders of the early church. He urges them to care for God’s flock, not for selfish gain, but willingly and eagerly, being examples of the life they preach about. That’s a direct call to today’s pastors, elders, and spiritual leaders to lead like Jesus did with humility, love, and a willingness to lay themselves down for others.

We saw last month how David, before becoming king, risked his life for his sheep. That same heart, courageous, protective, faithful, is what made him a “man after God’s own heart.” And then there’s Moses. Before leading Israel out of Egypt, he too was a literal shepherd. God called him because he was faithful in his shepherding. For 40 years, Moses guided God’s people through the wilderness, serving as the go-between for them and God. From David and Moses, we learn this: A good shepherd has a relationship with God, listens to and obeys God, and puts the flock first, protecting, providing, and guiding with love and sacrifice.

Sadly, not all shepherds live this out. Jeremiah 23:1-2 gives a sobering warning to unfaithful leaders: “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” (ESV). God didn’t stutter here. These leaders neglect the flock and act out of self-interest. He calls their actions EVIL. Ezekiel 34:1-10 describes their actions even further. Bad shepherds are described as those who ignore the weak, abandon the injured, and fail to seek out the lost. In short, they serve themselves instead of the sheep

Being a good shepherd isn’t just about knowing scripture or having a title. It’s about living out the gospel with compassion, integrity, and accountability. The kind of spiritual leadership we sit under matters. And as believers, we need to be wise and discerning about the shepherds we follow. So let’s ask ourselves these questions:

• Are the leaders I follow walking like Jesus?
• Do they know the flock and do they care for it?
• Am I growing spiritually under their leadership?

May we be able to discern good spiritual leadership and as we do, I know we will continue growing 2gether. Grace and peace 🙂