SHEPHERD OR WOLF?
Memorise: Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not
for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. 1 Peter 5:2
Our Bible reading for today is a grim lamentation of
prophet Jeremiah. It concerns both the spiritual and physical state of affairs
of the people of God of his time. This state of affairs sadly reflects the
current state of affairs of God’s people in our time. The Bible says that all
these were written as examples for those upon whom the ends of the world are
come (1 Corinthians 10:11). This state of affairs is therefore indicative of
the times we live in; these are the end-times. Let us learn one or two lessons
from this lamentation to deliver our soul from impending doom. In this
end-time, many pastors and preachers are no longer building with precious
stones on the Sure Foundation – Jesus Christ. Rather, they are building the
rubble, i.e. the philosophy of men and modern ideologies in order to make
Christianity “intelligible” to a 21st century audience. Even the sea
monsters draw out the breast and give suck to their young ones, but the teachers of God’s people
have become cruel – denying the flock the sincere milk of the Word, not even
when sincere seekers of truth demand for it.
Many modern day pastors and ministers of the gospel of
all categories are failing to live by the injunction of the dying Apostle Paul
to Timothy, his son in the Lord, and by extension, to all ministers of the
gospel in 2 Timothy 4:2 & 5:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. But watch thou in
all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof
of thy ministry.
The Bible warns ministers of the gospel against negligence
or dereliction of duty in Ezekiel 3:18-21. Ezekiel was also told not to consider
the unfriendly countenance of his audience but rather to deliver the word as he
was asked to (Ezekiel 2:6-7). The season we have worship centres all over the
place without godly impact is because God’s watchman are not doing their duty
right. Some pastors don’t consider if members of their congregation are
heaven-bound or not. In as much as they keep on bringing their offerings, “all
is well”. This is not right. As a Christian parent, you need to take today’s
message as yours as well. Your home is your God-given flock. It is for you to
nurture in the fear of the Lord. Are you a shepherd or a wolf? Think about
this, and may the Lord grant you understanding in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer point
Pray for all ministers of the gospel
around the world, that God will grant them the grace to preach the gospel
without fear or favour.
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