Shepherd of Souls
Whenever we put the actions and the character of the disciples into contrast with the action and character of the Lord, we have a sharp distinction which shows only the wonderful glory of the Lord. The disciples were selfish, but "Christ pleased not himself" (Rom. 15:3).
One evening when the disciples were walking with the Lord, a great crowd followed Him. He, with His shepherd heart, was concerned with the need of the crowd. He was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. At the same time the disciples drew off by themselves and began to consider how the presence of the crowd might inconvenience them. But lost souls were never an inconvenience to Jesus Christ. Upon this evening occasion the disciples looked at the crowd and said to one another that they were in a desert place, and that there were no provisions. So with their wise folly they came to the Lord with the advice, "Send them away ..." (Mark 6:36). Let them shift for themselves.
What are we doing for the souls in need round about us? Are we disturbed because we think that they might interfere with our plans? Is it not true that there are some who are more occupied with the organization of religion than they are with the souls around them? There are many people who feel that they are "disturbing" the minister by bringing their problems to him. How far from the truth if the man is a real minister, a real shepherd.
The object of Christian work is not the preparation of a sermon or the quiet, meditative and contemplative life. I once saw a little sign on the door of a Christian worker which read, "At prayer - do not disturb." I thought immediately of the many times the Lord was disturbed, but that He was always ready to meet the souls and their need. Prayer was important, vitally important, and He had to depart into the wilderness in order to seek it; He had to rise well before day in order to be left alone by the crowd. But when people were present, they were preeminent in His thought. They needed shepherding and He was the shepherd.
In a small city of Europe I saw a statue of an old man, and read beneath the figure that the monument had been raised by the grateful hearts of the people in memory of a parish priest who had loved his people for more than forty years. The inscription stated that there was no problem too small for his love nor too great for his care. I thought immediately of the Lord Jesus. This priest had made his parishioners feel the way all people should feel toward the disciples of Christ. It is only when we doubt His power to feed and supply the need of the crowd that we shall ever give way to the desire of asking Him to send them away. Rather let us pray, "Lord, send me a soul to disturb my little plans, and work through me the miracle of salvation and blessing for sorrowing hearts." Then shall we rejoice to the full.
1. What would you need to sacrifice first, in order to spend more time concerning yourself with evangelistic efforts?
2. What would kind of sacrifice would it take to love others more?
3. How should a Christian seek to emulate the type of shepherding Christ set before us?
