Jeremiah 3:15 “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”

There could hardly be a more challenging, or more encouraging, verse than this for a pastor today. We tend to forget that “pastor” means “shepherd,” exactly as in this verse. Of course, in those days civic leaders were called “shepherds,” quite possibly because of the heritage of David, the shepherd boy who became king. However, the connection between leaders of sheep and leaders of people is a valid one. Actually, that is recognized today in the rather derogatory term “sheeple,” which indicates people who follow blindly without thinking things through. The fact of the matter is, it is the job of leadership to set a good course, so that those following don’t have to think about every detail. That’s why bad leadership can be, and is, so disastrous. It is worth noting that the Japanese uses “raise,” as in raising children or crops, where the NIV says “lead.” A leader after God’s heart will be raising his/her followers much as a parent would their children. This is challenging for a pastor today because it is such a high standard, but it should be encouraging, because God says that He will raise up such shepherds. Every pastor must realize that to be valid, they must be called and sent by God, and that by definition puts the ball in God’s court to provide the knowledge and understanding necessary for the job. That doesn’t mean we aren’t responsible to pursue that knowledge and understanding, because we are. We need to spend time in the Word daily, becoming increasingly familiar with it so that the Holy Spirit may easily bring it to mind to guide and encourage. We are to dig into the meanings of words and the cultural backgrounds of various passages. However, we are never to treat that as a merely academic discipline, but rather as both the nourishment and the tool kit needed to do our job. If we will do that, God will equip us to be effective shepherds indeed, for His glory.

As a pastor, of course, this hits very close to home. I am constantly aware that I can’t do the job at all, much less do it right, in my own wisdom and strength. However, I have experienced God’s faithfulness more times and in more ways than I could count, and I can rest in the assurance that He indeed cannot be untrue to Himself. I have been instrumental in several people going into pastoral ministry. Sometimes I think their motive might be, “I can do a better job that he does!” I need to help each one understand what a high calling it is, requiring the utmost humility as well as the assurance that if God can use a donkey, He can use us! (Numbers 22:28)

Father, thank You for Your amazing grace in calling me to be one of Your shepherds. May I fulfill that calling with the knowledge and understanding that only Your Spirit can provide, so that the people may indeed be raised up as Your flock, Your children, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!