When we planted the church New Hope Brisbane I set up the stage to preach from. The heart to serve is what is behind the shepherd after God’s own heart.

August 9, 2007

Scripture

“Return, faithless people…then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:14-15

Observation

It was the pioneer days of Australian Christianity, when Sydney Town was a few muddy streets and only the brave ventured beyond the city limits. Fresh from England, a young Methodist missionary set out to plant churches. He was the first pastor to come who was not also something of a government agent with the Church of England. His heart was red hot for Christ. The story is told of how he rode through a stormy night and came to a bark hut and knocked on the door. Inside a family was gathered around the table. In a pool of lamplight the father was reading from the Bible and leading the family in prayer. They prayed that night the prayer they had prayed every night for years: “Lord, send to us a pastor.” Just as the prayer was prayed, the dripping preacher knocked on the door. That night a church was born in Castlereagh.

A good pastor is not just the result of good preparation but also of a congregation that is seeking to know the Lord. God’s word says plainly, that if people will return to him, he will in turn give to them a shepherd.

How important is a shepherd? Well with a shepherd, the people are lead with “knowledge and understanding.” So it stands to reason that living without a shepherd is to live in ignorance and confusion. Obviously a shepherd is a handy thing to have.

But not just any shepherd will do. He must be a shepherd after the Lord’s own heart. If his heart is seeking the Lord, then the people will follow as well. If the Lord is drawn toward his heart he will draw the people with him as well.

The impact of one pastor in a group of people is a beautiful thing to see. The magnetism of the Lord for him draws the people to his heart. The magnetism in his heart for Christ draws the people to Christ.

Application

I want to be a shepherd like that. I want to see shepherds raised up like that who see the Lord heart-first. We spend so much time in theological preparation developing the mind of the leader. After college or seminary all of the seminars develop the skill of the leader. But it seems that to the Lord what matters most is his heart. That is what we must focus our attention on.

Prayer

Father, make me a shepherd after your heart so that those I raise up will be the kind that you need.