Shepherding: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless

As we put away our Christmas decorations and haul our brittle and dry Fraser fir trees out to the landfill for recycling, Christmas reflections still linger. Linger like the few sweet-smelling leftover Fraser fir needles in my living room corner and in my vacuum. My mind and heart linger, still thinking about sweet baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds.

The shepherds…Before now I haven’t thought too much about shepherds. Other than I know the Lord is my Shepherd, as it says in Psalm 23. Why are shepherds on my heart?

The word “shepherd” is used more and more as a descriptive verb for guiding and motivating, leading a family or group of people. My heart’s desire is to be a good shepherd of people.

In Biblical times, shepherds were outcasts, really low in terms of social status. Imagine having to take care of smelly, stubborn sheep 24 hours a day, seven days a week, away from people. Supposedly, even in a court of law, shepherds’ testimony wasn’t even regarded. Shepherds were voiceless in society. But not to God.

God chose shepherds to be the first to see baby Jesus and tell the world about Him.  The Lord gave a respected voice to the voiceless. May it be so of each of us.

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” –Luke 2:16-20 NIV

“All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Beautiful. Just like God to give voice to the voiceless.

In this shiny new 2015, who are you shepherding?   Who is shepherding you? To whom will you tell the Good News?

Reflect:

–When have you felt voiceless? Please comment.

–When have you felt like a shepherd?

Renew:

–“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” –Psalm 23:1-3 NIV.

–“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. ” –Ezekiel 34:11-12 NIV.

–“I am the good Shepherd; I know my sheep and My sheep know Me. Just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.” –John 10:14-15 NIV.

Recharge:

–Who will you pray to shepherd this year? God as the Great Shepherd will guide you.

PS. Today, January 6th, at 10am, please join me to watch Lysa TerKeurst, my dynamic Proverbs 31 Ministries President and friend, on The Today Show. She will be interviewed about her New York Times Bestselling Book The Best Yes.  www.lysaterkeurst.com or www.proverbs31.org.