Marks of a good Shepherd

Andre Pelser

The marks of a good Shepherd are a good relationship with God, with himself and with other people. It is based on the Great Commandment to love God and others as you love yourself. God wants to make you a pastor after His own heart that will be able to feed His flock with knowledge and understanding. Accept your pastoral commission today!

1.      Relationship with God

Self righteousness is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). Righteousness by faith is acceptable with God. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that puts is in a right relationship with God. Christ is our holiness as well. As He increases, our holiness increases. He is our wisdom. As we know Him better, our wisdom grows.

Stir your spirit up to take hold of God. He has to make an effort to read the Bible and pray and to develop understanding. Dr. Gray taught us at MVBC: ‘If you make seeking me the most pre-eminent thing in your life, I will take care of so many things you think you have to take care of.’

Know the power of repentance. Repentance means to change your way of thinking. Repentance is the way out of sin. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But then we have to forsake our wicked ways. Jesus told His disciples to ‘pray lest you enter into temptation’. He resisted sin to the point of sweating blood. The greatest sin is unbelief. Every other sin stems from unbelief. Faith pleases God.

Learn how to perform God’s good pleasure. He feeds the flock with knowledge and understanding. The church shall multiply and increase. People will grow in grace.

A Pastor avoids dull-heartedness. Jeremiah 10:14-25 explains that pastors who do not seek the Lord become dull-hearted. Dull-hearted means without knowledge.

A good Shepherd will no longer look to the Old Covenant but explain the New Covenant in Christ to the people. He will not look to the ark, nor remember it, nor visit it, nor shall it be made any more.

A good Shepherd shall no longer walk after the stubbornness of his own heart, but shall be circumcised in the heart (Romans 2:29).

2.      Relationship with himself

Do not let the world squeeze you into its own mould, but rather be moulded from within, having a sane estimation of yourself. That is the key to having a humble opinion of you. Know what you are capable of, enjoy the gifts and talents God has given, but regard others higher than yourself. Self denial is not an exercise in self pity. It is a glorious surrender to a greater life: the life of Christ!

Develop a Shepherd’s heart (Jeremiah 12:11).

Take up your cross and follow the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, (Jeremiah 17:16).

Become the mouth piece of God (Jeremiah 15:19). Discern between good and evil to become the mouth piece of God.

3.      Relationship with others

Have a good relationship with your family. This takes time and discipline. (Ephesians 5:22 to Ephesians 6:1-4) Wives submit to husbands; husbands love wives and children obey parents in the Lord. Parents do not exasperate children by expecting too much of them. Children honour father and mother, then you will live longer! (It is the first commandment that contains a promise).

Know the sheep and they will know your voice to follow where you lead. Feed them, carry them, and lead them to green pastures of rest and to still waters to refresh their souls. A good Shepherd does not drive people like cattle, but leads them like sheep.  Don’t correct people in anger (Jeremiah 10:24). You always have some goats among the sheep. Visit the sheep (Jeremiah 23:2). Don’t forsake the sheep in difficult times. Don’t scatter the sheep. Don’t raise sheep just for slaughter. Create a fold for the sheep so that they feel safe. You are the door for the sheep. (Matthew 25:32)

Have a good report from people outside the church. Make an effort to relate to other people who do not belong to the church.

Word of encouragement

You are God’s servant. God takes ordinary people and makes them champions. Continually improve what you are doing. God has prepared you for just a time like this. You are called and you are gifted. You are the apple of God’s eye.

The devil will try to destroy you because you are precious to God. But the area of your greatest battles is the key to your gift.

Develop your ability to communicate. Break embarrassment and avoid mannerisms and change speech habits.

You can overcome all sin and sickness by the cross of Calvary. God has a key to every problem. God gives you the keys of the kingdom to unlock the mysteries of God for people.

Overcome the hurts and fears that make you want to withdraw. Beat the things that want to make you feel inferior.

Be real. Face hardship if you have to. It will make you strong.

Express your gift with boldness. Work with God. Better yourself in the natural but rely on God in the