I AM A SHEEP FIRST

• Paris Ragan
• Christian Living
• 0 comments
• May 04, 2018

Psalms 23:1 says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

For men and women called into ministry, especially youth ministry, there seems to be an overwhelming need to pour one’s heart, soul, time, finances, and life into the ministry that the Lord has given that person to do.

In all reality, Christian ministers can find themselves overwhelmed with a strenuous schedule and workload. Factor in the need to adhere to their personal walk before the Lord—applying the Message of the Cross and spiritual warfare raging all around them and their families—and you’re looking at the makings of spiritual burnout. This is a place that a minister does not want to be.

Oftentimes, I believe that men and women who are called into the ministry can view themselves as invincible, when, in all reality, we are terribly weak. Great demands are placed on those called to the ministry, yet attention must also be given to that minister’s needs. That’s why we have to understand that before we are anything else in life, we are first sheep in the flock of God. We can find great comfort in this!

What are some of the responsibilities that the Lord has charged pastors with to oversee the body of Christ? Jesus told Peter three times in one setting that if he loved Him, he should feed His sheep. The number one responsibility of pastors, even youth pastors, is to rightly divided the Word of God and deliver it to the congregation.
Sheep spend up to seven hours a day eating. As they eat, the food goes first into what is called the rumen, which then contracts and brings the food back through the esophagus where it is chewed again and properly processed.

Likewise, we, as sheep, need the Word of God more and more every day. In Acts 20:28, Paul charged believers in Ephesus to, “take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

This means that the pastor of the church is responsible not only for feeding the sheep, but also for their oversight. This requires attentive and careful attention. The shepherd of the flock must have a watchful eye because sheep can be so sensitive. The slightest difficulty can cause great strife in the entire flock.

Pastors, like shepherds, don’t get a lot of sleep. They spend as much time with the flock as they can, and they spend every waking minute of their lives concerning themselves with the care and attention of the flock. This means that there are many sleepless nights, early mornings, late nights, great heartaches, constant concerns, an overwhelming sense of inadequacy, and intense moments in prayer before the Lord.

The shepherd is not concerned with making a name for himself; he’s too busy concerning himself with the sheep. In fact it’s the shepherd’s concern for his sheep that earns him the title of being a “good sheep man.”

With such a heavy weight of responsibility, we look at ministry and say that it’s impossible because we’re not shepherding sheep, we’re shepherding people. In youth ministry, we’re shepherding young people who are going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. This can be such an overwhelming responsibility!
But like David, the minister can say that the Lord is my Shepherd! In the midst of the pressures, he must remember that ministers are also sheep—weak, feeble, and just as vulnerable to attacks of the enemy as is every other Christian.

As a youth pastor, I need help from my Shepherd because the weight of responsibilities in my life are far too great for me to bear on my own. I need comfort and assurance that I have the Shepherd in my life, and His name is Jesus. He gives urgent attention to all of my needs. He gives me green pastures for rest and still waters. He leads me and guides me. He is with me in the valley of the shadow of death. His rod and staff give me comfort. He prepares a table land for me. He gives me a cup that runs over with blessings, and goodness and mercy are all around me!
The Lord is MY Shepherd!

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