Shepherds With Dull Hearts

 "For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered" (Jer. 10:21).

The young man I was listening to was very bitter as he fired off attacks against Christians and especially against the church.  He had a story that made him an expert on the hypocrisy of all Christians and every church.  You may have heard similar stories yourself. He went to church every Sunday, went on the youth retreats, was in a Christian school k-12 and after graduation he turned bitter toward everything Jesus, and walked away.

 
I have heard too many stories from prodigals and though it is not the same in the case of every prodigal, I have found a common thread in many stories.  Mom and dad got them to church every Sunday sent them to Christian school, but were never really consistent in their own Christian walks.  The shepherds at home were dull-hearted and were not seeking the Lord.  I have heard too often of two sets of parents, one set of church parents and another different set of parents at home.  Even youngsters can easily discern the duplicity.  

As a pastor I must take Jeremiah 10:21 very seriously, if ever I become dull-hearted it affects not only me but the flock of God. If I am one man in the pulpit and another man outside the pulpit I can easily become part of a prodigals testimony.  I would covet your prayers that I might have a continual fresh walk with Jesus and a fresh anointing of His Spirit.  It is also very important for you parents, the shepherds at home, to heed the words of the prophet that your children will see in you what it is to be Christian men and women.  I'm convinced that the best way to cut back on the prodigal population is for we the shepherds to be living consistently and whole heartedly for Jesus in word and deed.
 

Spiritual Dehydration

"So shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth;
 it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it," (Isaiah 55:11).

I was at a picnic the other day with an innumerable amount of children. The day was warm which seemed to slow down the adults, but had little affect on the children. While watching the endless action, I noticed one wise and caring mom, who very consistently called her little daughter over to her to drink some water. Mom felt the heat of the day, and saw her toddler's constant playing.  She didn't wait for her to get thirsty and ask for water, she just lovingly kept her red-faced little one hydrated.

No doubt you know this, but please allow me to be that mom to you. Are you busy, under stress and endlessly running around in these hot days? You need to be drinking in the word of God, don't wait until you are parched and thirsty, drink now! It is so very important for your spiritual health that you partake of the word not once or twice a week, but daily, and perhaps several times a day. Like that little flush-faced girl, you need to be called out of what you are doing and be nourished.

Spiritual dehydration can creep in to your life without you even realizing it, so be disciplined in taking in God's word
 

Swallowed Up By Life!

 

"For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened,

not because we want to be unclothed,

but for the clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life (II Cor. 5:4).

The world portrays death as a fearful skeleton figure clothed in a black robe.  With one hand death clutches a sickle and with the other he takes hold of some poor soul who is about to die.

For those of us who are in Christ Jesus, this picture of death couldn't be further from the truth.  I love how Matthew Henry describes death.  He said "death is but a kindly messenger come bid us to the Father".

How marvelous that because of Jesus, we shall not die, only be swallowed up by life!