Should not a shepherd feed his sheep?

John 1:12

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

So why does He empower people? To do signs and wonders? Sure. But there’s more. It’s to become sons of God and to be transformed to His image! You and others through you, because of your obedience!

Aren’t you His own? Should not a shepherd feed his sheep?

Read Ezekiel 34. This is what the Lord said to the shepherds who fed themselves but not their sheep:

“You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.”

What was God’s response to His sheep being scattered? He gave us His one and only son Jesus, our Chief Shepherd! Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

When you start getting concerned about people’s souls, you will know you are operating as a child of God. You will walk in peace, you will give peace, and you will show people how to walk in peace and give peace to others. You will have a heart that withholds nothing. You will be a person who is after God’s own heart. When you start giving out not only your resources, but your time, and care for His sheep, you become a Kingdom asset. Why? Because He deeply cares for His sheep. He desires that they are well fed and rested!

Do you see why God chose Joshua, David, Paul and others to shepherd His people? Was it their anointing? Their special talents? While these are good and necessary, these people also lived surrendered to their Good Shepherd. This made them men after God’s own heart.

Numbers 27:16-17

May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.

No matter how old and experienced we are, we need to be fed by our Good Shepherd. Are you willing to be led by Him? How dependent are you on Jesus?

Realize that your healing, deliverance, gifts and anointing are not just for you, but for others! Rivers of living waters will flow out of you!

Jesus, make me a living sacrifice. My eyes are fixed on you, my Good Shepherd, who takes care of me. As I am being fed by you, let me feed others.

Father, give me the heart of a servant.