Thursday, May 17, 2012

You're a Shepherd to Someone

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them. -Psalm 78:72 (NIV)

I'm reminded of the story about the parent who was preparing supper for the family one night. A child stood nearby watching the parent cut the sides of a piece of meat off before placing the remaining piece in a large pan. The child asked the parent why the sides of the meat were sliced away and the parent replied, "I don't know; that's just the way your grandmother does it and I learned from her." Several days later, the child is watching grandmother cook the same dish in her kitchen. The child asked the woman, "Why do you and my mother cut both sides of the meat off before placing it in the pan?" The grandmother replied, "I don't know why your mother does it but I do it because my pan's not large enough for the meat."

Why do you do what you do? Have you clearly communicated to others the reason? In our psalm this morning, the psalmist states the importance of telling the next generation about the deeds and wonders of God. The goal is to teach your children so that they'll know and so that they'll teach their children. It's not enough to let them observe you living out your faith; you must be clear as to why you live out your faith. So, why are you a person of faith? Why do you live out your faith the way that you do?

The psalmist notes that not all who see the faith lived and who hear the faith explained will follow. Some will see the deeds and wonders of God a hundred times over and still be rebellious and stubborn. But God continues to raise up leaders to lead God's people with integrity, leaders like David. He was a shepherd, certainly not perfect, but he was willing to be used by God to shepherd and lead others.

You're a leader whether you like it or not. Someone is looking at you and looking to you to show them how to live and for an explanation as to why you live the way you do. You're a shepherd to someone.

May God grant you the grace to shepherd with integrity today.



If you're interested in reading through the Bible, tomorrow's readings are 1 Kings 4-5, 2 Chronicles 2, Psalm 101, and 2 Thessalonians 3.

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