Neil McIver - The Lord Is My Shepherd

Neil McIver, on this Father’s Day, asks whether God is our Shepherd and whether we, as fathers, are shepherds to our families. Jesus Christ leads us; we follow Him, recognizing His voice. Pastors and fathers of families must imitate Jesus Christ, gently leading rather than harshly driving their charges. Shepherds must protect their flocks against false teachers. Sheep have the pesky habit of going astray and getting lost, sometimes trapping themselves on precipitous ledges, desperately needing a rescue. Satan seeks out the young and naïve ‘lambs’ to devour. Our young people are most vulnerable in the current split-ups within the greater church of God. As fathers, we are obligated to protect our children from the insidious church ‘politics’ which has proved most hurtful. We need to stay close to our Shepherd Jesus Christ, not relying on our own resources. We dare not follow the example of King Saul, who presumptuously, like a goat, did his own thing instead of meekly following God’s orders. As fathers, we must gently lead and inspire our offspring to desire God’s way.

Acts 20:28-31 * Characteristics of sheep * Dwight Eisenhower * I Peter 2:25; 5:2-6 * I Samuel 13:11-12 * Following truth * Ferocious wolves * Goats * Isaiah 40:11 * Isaiah 53 John 1:11-13; 10:3-15; 12:26 * Lambs * Luke 9:23-24 * Matthew 16:15; 23:3; 25:32-34 * Passover * Psalms 23:1-6; 78; 52 * Scottish Highlands * Shepherd * String analogy * Subject to one another * Wolves * Zechariah 13:7