How does Ezekiel 34:1 challenge leaders to care for their flock today? The Word Still Speaks “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,” (Ezekiel 34:1) What This Opening Verse Reveals • God initiates: ministry begins with His voice, not human plans. • Prophetic accountability: leaders are answerable to a message outside themselves. • Timeless authority: if the Word once confronted shepherds, it confronts them still. Core Challenges for Modern Shepherds • Listen before leading – Schedule regular, unhurried time in Scripture. – Test every strategy against God’s revealed will. • Submit, don’t edit – Resist the urge to soften hard truths Scripture delivers. – Let the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) shape teaching and decision-making. • Expect inspection – One day “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). – Lead with a conscious awareness of that coming review. Practical Marks of a Leader Who Hears the Word 1. Feeds the flock first – Echoing Ezekiel 34:2-3, nourishment means clear, doctrinally accurate preaching (2 Timothy 4:2). 2. Protects from predators – Guard against false teaching (Titus 1:9). – Provide safe environments for the vulnerable. 3. Seeks the straying – Pursue the wanderer (Matthew 18:12-14). – Keep pastoral contact lists and follow-up systems current. 4. Leads by example – “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). 5. Depends on the Chief Shepherd – Regular prayer for wisdom (James 1:5). – Collaborate with fellow elders; oversight is a shared stewardship (Philippians 1:1). Applications Beyond the Pulpit • Parents: shepherd the miniature congregation at home—start family devotions, listen to children’s spiritual questions. • Ministry team leaders: evaluate programs by biblical goals, not mere attendance. • Christian employers: treat employees as people to be served, not resources to be exploited (Colossians 4:1). Scriptural Reinforcements • John 10:11—Jesus models sacrificial shepherding. • Acts 20:28—“Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” • Jeremiah 23:1—another divine indictment that underscores the seriousness of neglect. • 1 Peter 5:2—“Shepherd the flock of God among you.” The simple announcement of Ezekiel 34:1—“the word of the LORD came”—reminds every leader that true ministry starts and ends with hearing, heeding, and heralding that same authoritative Word today. |
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