Good Shepherding

 DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

GOOD SHEPHERDING

 Rom 16:17-19

17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

NIV

The times have not changed much over these thousands of years, for there are those today who cause divisions and put obstacles in the way of believers, that are contrary to the truth. There are many today who use all sorts of media sources to spread their smooth talk and flattery deceiving naïve believers. It is so important to be under the shepherding of a local pastor who lives his life in the open in front of his people and has been called by God to watch over the people of his congregation, leading them to green pastures, which is the word of God. Yes, the shepherd preaches from the word, but it is the sheep that must eat from the green pasture. Paul also talks about the gift of the Spirit to the church, which one of the four or five, depending on how that is seen, is the pastor, and maybe as well as the teacher. Nevertheless, the pastor is the shepherd who leads the people to the word of God, there they may eat and devour the truth of God,  which nourishes and strengthens them. The deceivers are not interested in leading the people to the truth, but only what to flattering the people so they will give them their money so they can live the high and abundant lifestyle that satisfies their appetites. How easy it is to let our ears be flattered, to be told how good we are, and how wonderful it is to be blessed by God, that he will give us our hearts desire if we only give. That old seed faith thing that tickled the ears of so many, if you want more money, then give more money, to the smooth talker, of course. It is so important to devour the word of God, to ingest it into the core of our being, so we will not be deceived by those silver-tongued purveyors of lies. This is also why the Spirit has that gift of discernment available so that when those deceivers come along, the Spirit expresses that gift within us, so we can avoid the lies, and see the truth. We can be sure as we are obedient to the truth, the pastor is full of joy over his seeing the people, God has given him. The shepherd is always glad to see his sheep flourish, but also is glad to see the people being wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.