What qualifies a person to be a leader in our world? Remember years ago, John T. Molloy wrote a book called, Dress for Success. His thesis was that leaders need to look the part. Later, another book emerged called, Stress for Success. The author posited that people who undergo stress are in a better position to lead. If stress is the main criterion for being successful, many who are reading may feel like world champions, so great is your stress.
When God looks for a leader, he searches for a shepherd. Have you ever thought about the leaders in the Old Testament? Abraham, Moses, Amos, and David all tended sheep. About David, the Psalmist says, “From the sheepfolds I called him to shepherd my flock . . .”
Not all shepherds care about the sheep. Ezekiel expressed God’s dismay with the leaders of his day. In fact, God promised to fire the false shepherds who mistreated his sheep. God said, “I will be their shepherd.” How does God define great leadership: a good shepherd goes and looks for the sheep and personally cares for them. Surely these verses provide the backdrop for Jesus saying, “I am the good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.”
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Aren’t we glad? If that were not enough, he gave up his own life for the sheep so that we might have life. Thieves steal, kill, and destroy. But our good Shepherd came to give us abundant life. Will we receive it today? He is leading. Will we follow?
