This is a topic that deserves a lot of interest by people in all aspects of life. We look for strong leaders to lead the government of our country. As a matter of fact, we look for strong leadership in everything we are involved in. The Lord's church is no different. It has a strong leader, Jesus Christ our Lord (Ephesians 5:27). We also realize that Jesus set up His dmrch with earthly leaders in mind not to change the church's doctrine, but to lead it and to keep it from going astray. Jesus realized that without leadership we would become like sheep without a shepherd, and He is the good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. The term, shepherds, used for leaders of the church, speaks of one who is a leader, brave and strong; one who knows the sheep by name and theft know him, one who has love and concern for the sheep. Jesus spoke of the shepherd who had a hundred sheep and as he was putting them into the fold that evening counted only ninety-nine. Once he had secured the ninety-nine for the night, he returned to the countryside where the sheep had been during the day, even though it was now dark calling the sheep's name and listening for the sheep to answer, calling again and again in the dark of the night, moving farther and farther out into the countryside, looking, searching for that one lost sheep. He rejoiced when at last he heard that sheep's "baa." The good shepherd cared for his sheep, making sure that he led them to good pasture, cool water and taking care of their illnesses and injury. This is the type of leadership that Jesus wants in His church!
© Copyright 2001. Paul D. Fisher. All rights reserved.