Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely.

The Japanese and English divide the sentences up a bit differently, but I like this division, because this much should apply to every pastor serving today. Sadly, it doesn’t necessarily, but it can for anyone who is properly called and obedient. The point is, pastoring a flock cannot be done properly in merely human strength. Jesus came as a man, but He ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that same power is available to every believer today. This is doubly important for everyone who has received God’s commission as an under shepherd over a flock. There are lots of abilities and management skills that can be brought to bear, but those are ultimately not enough without the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Only when He is in control do the “sheep” really dwell in peace. That’s not to say there aren’t disturbances at times even in a flock that is properly shepherded, because we are constantly under attack. However, trying to keep a flock together, well fed and at peace, with merely human strength and wisdom, is a lost cause.

This is of course extremely and directly applicable to me and my situation. I’ve had too many times of trying to rely on human strength and wisdom, my own or someone else’, and I know it doesn’t work! The Lord has pointed out to me that’s a good thing, because I’m not building His Church, He is! I’ve got to stay fully submitted and available to Him, but I’m not to be anxious about whether He can get the job done. Anxiety comes only and to the degree that I’m depending on something other than Him, because He will never fail. That’s not to say that I’m not to be earnest in prayer and faithful in obedience; that would be foolish presumption. I’m to pour all I’ve got into it, knowing that’s not enough but also knowing that He will multiply and make it enough, just as He did with the five loaves and two fish. If I am standing in Christ, then He will accomplish His will in and through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. The past couple of months have been a bit rocky at times, and I’ve taken my eyes off of Jesus a little. Thank You for Your grace and patience toward me. Help me indeed stand and minister in Christ and not in myself, so that the results will be Your glory and not my nothingness. Thank You. Praise God!