One of the Greatest Needs in America
What would you say are the great needs in America? Like the diversity in the country, there are a variety of answers including: evangelism, education, equality, economic justice. A much longer list could be assembled. No doubt, a case can be made for the need for evangelists and educators, prophets and politicians, revivalists and reformers.
May I suggest that one of the great needs in America is for shepherds? When Jesus looked at “a great multitude” of people, He was moved with compassion at the great need. Obviously, in a great number of people, there would be a number of different needs, yet the Scripture focuses on one great need. It says, “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd (Mk. 6:43a). One of the greatest needs in America today is for godly shepherds to feed and lead people.
Good shepherds do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Mt. 23:37). That deeply felt emotional expression certainly includes evangelism.
Godly shepherds teach. When Jesus saw the “great multitude” and was moved with compassion, thinking they needed a shepherd, “He began to teach” (Mk. 6:34b). Jesus told Peter, a shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1-2), “Feed My sheep” (Jn. 21:17).
Great shepherds sacrifice themselves to meet the needs of the sheep. Jesus, the “good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11a), “that great Shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13:20) “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mk. 10:45b), to “gives His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11b), to “give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45b). Shepherd not only watch sheep give birth and see to it that the sheep are fed, they “tend” the flock (Jn. 21:16), helping heal the hurts (Lk. 4:18), etc.
When Shepherds do what they are supposed to do, there is evangelism, education, equality, even economic justice. One of the outstanding examples is John Newton, ex-slave trader, author of Amazing Grace and pastor, who shepherded William Wilberforce. In the year Newton died (1807), Parliament passed Wilberforce’s bill abolishing the slave trade on British ships.
Pray that the Lord will rise up shepherds to minister to the flock (Lk. 10:2) and pray for the shepherds who are ministering to their flocks now (Heb. 13:17-18). They are meeting one of the greatest needs in the world, one sheep at a time. Shepherds receive little recognition now, but when the chief shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) appears, shepherds who have done their job well will “receive the crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4).
G. Michael Cocoris 1/31/2003.
May I suggest that one of the great needs in America is for shepherds? When Jesus looked at “a great multitude” of people, He was moved with compassion at the great need. Obviously, in a great number of people, there would be a number of different needs, yet the Scripture focuses on one great need. It says, “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd (Mk. 6:43a). One of the greatest needs in America today is for godly shepherds to feed and lead people.
Good shepherds do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Mt. 23:37). That deeply felt emotional expression certainly includes evangelism.
Godly shepherds teach. When Jesus saw the “great multitude” and was moved with compassion, thinking they needed a shepherd, “He began to teach” (Mk. 6:34b). Jesus told Peter, a shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1-2), “Feed My sheep” (Jn. 21:17).
Great shepherds sacrifice themselves to meet the needs of the sheep. Jesus, the “good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11a), “that great Shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13:20) “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mk. 10:45b), to “gives His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11b), to “give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45b). Shepherd not only watch sheep give birth and see to it that the sheep are fed, they “tend” the flock (Jn. 21:16), helping heal the hurts (Lk. 4:18), etc.
When Shepherds do what they are supposed to do, there is evangelism, education, equality, even economic justice. One of the outstanding examples is John Newton, ex-slave trader, author of Amazing Grace and pastor, who shepherded William Wilberforce. In the year Newton died (1807), Parliament passed Wilberforce’s bill abolishing the slave trade on British ships.
Pray that the Lord will rise up shepherds to minister to the flock (Lk. 10:2) and pray for the shepherds who are ministering to their flocks now (Heb. 13:17-18). They are meeting one of the greatest needs in the world, one sheep at a time. Shepherds receive little recognition now, but when the chief shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) appears, shepherds who have done their job well will “receive the crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4).
G. Michael Cocoris 1/31/2003.