Shepherds

The difference between a good shepherd and a false shepherd is fairly obvious. The good shepherd is motivated by self-sacrifice and the false shepherd is motivated by self-preservation. (And it is never more obvious than in the crisis moment.) To minister is to serve not to be served. And in the place where He has called you, you are not to build a kingdom for your glory but to be the "least in the kingdom" for His glory. Any other attitude puts the well-being of the sheep in your care in grave jeopardy. I wonder how many of us that have been called to minister to the needs of others--both spiritual and physical--more closely resemble the hireling rather than the Chief Shepherd, perhaps, without even knowing it? May God remind me every day that I am the least important person in my classroom. With the greatest responsibility to touch the life of each student with the love of the Shepherd.

And by the way: we are all called to minister to the needs of others--both physical and spiritual. Both physical and spiritual--not either/or.