Raise your hand if you’ve ever been failed by a leader – and a Christian leader, in particular.
Ok. Put your hands down. Yes, all of us have experienced this to some degree. It’s hard. It questions our faith. It causes doubt and suspicions to grow in other areas of life. We find ourselves swaying uncomfortably, desperately looking for solid ground to stand on.
In John 10 this morning, I read to my kids about Jesus as our Shepherd. He says that hired hands will run away when struggles come. Temporary, earthly leaders will abandon the sheep, leaving them hurt, broken, and in need of care.
The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
But oh friends! They were never our true shepherds to begin with! When I put my faith in presidents and pastors, teachers and saints, I am putting my faith in the wrong place. My faith should be in God alone, and in Jesus, our true Shepherd.
When I am abandoned and disillusioned by earthly people, I sometimes feel like I can never trust again. But “Love Always Trusts.” So how do we do that?
We do that by taking our eyes off the people and focusing them on Jesus. He loved first. He showed grace. He gave everything for His sheep.
We can trust again. We can forgive people. We can minister and show love. Because we aren’t following men and women. We are following Jesus.
Jesus said:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Romans 15:3 (context) “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “ The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on ME,”
Please notice that the “ME” in verse 3 is JESUS CHRIST and that He has taken every single reproach or sins against you by others, most especially including Churches and their leaders. JESUS took them all and if you or me EVER hold any reproaches against anyone, even murderers, then you or I are claiming that JESUS did not do enough redeeming for that specific sin we each hold in bitterness or vengeance. Thank you Becky Emerick for the platform for this comment that is my life verse.
Thanks, Gary, for sharing your thoughts and scripture that has encouraged you. That is so true. Something to think about. I’d never considered that verse in that specific way before!