come on shepherds!?! come on, Paul!?!

I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly. (1 Peter 5:1-4, The Message)

Sounds like the bishop's exhortation during my ordination vows! I think also of James' warning that "not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1, TNIV)

What is such a challenge (at once refreshing and at once daunting) in this passage is the call to serve with a diligent and determined focus. The challenge is to BE the shepherd in a world that is seducing us all to BE a thousand different personas. The shepherd is focussed not on obligation (v2), nor wealth (v2), nor power. Rather, the shepherd is focussed on Jesus Christ, the "best shepherd of all" (or "uber-shepherd"). By choosing a diligent and determined focus on Jesus (think Hebrews 12:1-3) the local shepherd will be (super)naturally directed to a diligent and determined service to the sheep.

O Lord Jesus, your local parishes NEED shepherds who will serve with such a focus. If they did (if I did) I can only imagine the "mighty deeds" that the local church would become part of.