Shepherds after God’s Heart

Pastor Austen Ukachi

“And I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15)

God is in need of true shepherds who have the passion to feed his flock. There are many hirelings, but few shepherds. God is looking for shepherds who will feed the weak sheep and lambs in his house. In Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34, God is seen expressing his disappointment with the shepherds in Israel, in their greed, negligence and indifference to the welfare of His flock. Hirelings abound today in the Church. If God were to reveal the scorecard of many Pastors, many of us would be disappointed in the way we have derailed from our God-given responsibilities.

It is the responsibility of shepherds to feed and teach God’s flock with knowledge and understanding. The bible says God’s people perish for lack of knowledge. The flock of God must have a true knowledge and understanding of who God is. According to Psalms 119:130, understanding comes through the word of God. And Jeremiah 23:4 says, When we feed and teach them, they will:
Know God
Not be afraid
They shall “not lack,” the NIV says, “not miss”

How did Paul shepherd God’s flock? According to Acts 20:20-28:
He taught them day and night
He taught them from house to house
He travailed and laboured in birth for themGalatians 4:19
He prayed for them and taught them how to pray and relate with God
He was a father to them; he cared for them the way a father cared for his child1 Corinthians 4:14-16
He cared for them like a nurse would care for a patient1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Every Shepherd must seek to know God at three levels:

First, a shepherd must have a revelation of the Hand of God, that is, his Power and Miracles.

Secondly, the shepherd must seek to have a revelation of the Face of God, that is, the Favour and Mercy of God.

Thirdly, a shepherd must seek to have a revelation of the Heart of God, that is, the Mind, the Purpose,  the Love, the Compassion and the Will of God.

The shepherd can teach the people of God only to the degree of the knowledge of God he possesses. If his knowledge of God is shallow and incomplete, the less of God he is able to communicate to the people. Dear servant of God, how committed and effective are you as a shepherd? How diligent are you in feeding the flock of God?