Encouragement for the Shepherd

I met with my home group last night and we spoke about the fact that Christmas has been under assault in the public square. We noticed the lack of Nativity Scenes in public places and we all were familiar with the ever popular "Happy Holidays" from store clerks who were no longer allowed to say "Merry Christmas".

Pastor David shared a story about a Missionary we support named Dirk Wood who is a very bold, and unusually brazen sort of character...unless you have met him you have NO CLUE what I am talking about! But he told of a time when Dirk went to a park in London with a banner with the name "JESUS" written on it and he draped it over the fence. Dirk was not preaching. He was simply just standing next to the banner with the name of Jesus displayed. It was just a matter of time when various people began to come up to him and curse at him and yell at him with all manner of vulgarity. Dirk did not respond. He just stood there next to the name of Jesus. So what provoked these people to such animosity, hatred and anger? Remember the old precious Hymn "There is power in the name of Jesus"...aparantly there is still so much power in His Name alone that can convict and provoke someone lost in sin and far from God.

The world hates Jesus.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am trying to look at the manger in a different perspective this year. As I read the Christmas story in Luke 2 again this morning I was paying specific attention to the details about the shepherds. Who are the modern day Shepherds? Where can I see this part of the Christmas story living out in our world today? The more I meditated on the Shepherds I thought of our own Shepherd, friend and Pastor--David Kerr.

Yesterday was a very hard day for him. He preached a funeral for a staff member's son. Just three weeks ago this young man gave his heart to the Lord. He had run with a pretty hard crowd and became dissatisfied with his life and how things were going. He began searching for something of significance and told him mother that he wanted what his younger brother had discovered in a relationship with Christ. I am in awe of the mercy of God that was so good to have stirred this man's heart to recognize his need of a savior just weeks before his death. Pastor David preached the funeral to a church full of this man's friends...a rough crowd...and lost as lost could be.

As a church member, I could see the earnest struggle pastor was having in knowing this might be the last time he ever sees this crowd of people in church and he knew what he said needed to make the message clear about how their friend turned to Christ. Pastor was compassionate, yet did not mince words about the truth of God's word that there is only one way to heaven through Jesus Christ...and their friend bowed a knee to receive Christ just 3 weeks ago.

So how does this all relate to the Manger and Christmas??

To him who has ears to hear and eyes to see...follow me.

Just as the angels proclaimed the good news of great joy to the shepherds in the field, the scriptures tell this of the Shepherds:

"...And when they had seen this [the babe in the manger], they made known the statement
which had been told them about this child. And all who heard it wondered at the
things told to them by the shepherds..." Luke 2:17-18

So as Pastor David, being a true Shepherd at heart, was telling these precious and priceless people about the Lord and his free gift of salvation for all who would call on him, I sat in the back of the church and was praying that the words they heard would stay with them, sealed in their hearts forever...even if they did not respond that day, that those words would be sealed in their minds forever.

I pray those friends would experience the same thing that the people did who heard the news from the Shepherds at the very first Christmas. I pray that it would happen again 2000 Christmases later...that all the friends who heard those words about Christ would wonder and consider all the Shepherd told them at their dear friend's funeral. I pray God gives them wisdom to understand and seek Him...for Wise Men still seek Him!

And to my dear Pastor, Shepherd and friend...your heart for the truth of God's word is a gift. Your compassion and concern for people is evident. I firmly believe the words you spoke have not fallen on deaf ears. You may not see the fruit of those words today, or even tomorrow...but I truly believe you will see some of those friends in Heaven and they will tell you, "I never could shake those words you said...they just stuck with me. One day a few years later I remembered all that you had said, and I bowed my knee and asked Christ into my heart and to lead me. I am here because you spoke the truth over my life in a time of need. Your words hijacked me on the highway to hell...and for that, I thank you!."

So this one goes out to all the Shepherds who are forever called to tell the masses all that they have been told and experienced of Jesus Christ our Savior. The manger would not be complete without you!

Love, Dawn