Shepherding at the Right Time

The combined Lord's table meeting of the church in Bengaluru on 21st July was the right day for a brother to be shepherded. He was none other than the first new one I brought to the Lord after I consecrated my life to serve the Lord and joined the full-time training in Chennai. Initially, I did pay much attention to him in helping him deal with some of his personal matters in life. But as time went by, he slipped out of my shepherding hand as I moved to the North and he continued to stay in the South. On and off, we were in touch for fellowship and prayer. However due to certain situations, he has been facing complications in his marital life, and he has been forced to contact me for fellowship and prayer.

In fact, a week before I met him, he called me for an urgent fellowship concerning his marital complication. I could offer no help. I could only pray for him and pray with him. There were things beyond my capacity. Though he requested me to talk to his wife and his sister for some of his complicated family issues, I just did not have the peace to do so. For, deep within I discerned that he was also on the wrong side. He needed to learn his lesson as well. I cannot come in between their family matters like gum to patch up their broken relationship. In every human relationship, all the parties need to be consulted. Everybody knows how to present their own case and present it so well that the other parties always seem to be on the wrong side. I have long learned this lesson well. Therefore, I do not jump into to patch up relationship without giving all parties involved a careful hearing first. 

On the Lord's Day, he came for the meeting. In fact, we also sat together in the same row. That was the Lord's sovereignty. After the meeting, he and I had a good time of fellowship face-to-face and one-on-one. I did not plan this, but the Lord did. I waited for the proper timing and the Lord gave that time. It was just the right time. I was able to shepherd him and fellowshipped with him point by point. The Lord gave me the discerning I needed to shepherd him. So, whatever feeling the Lord gave me, I spoke faithfully. And he accepted all that I said. I had no confirmation from anyone about his situation, but as the Holy Spirit gave me the discernment, I spoke point by point and he accepted that all that I spoke about him was indeed true. He testified that he was also wrong on his side and that he made a mistake, a big mistake, in dealing with his wife and his younger sister. 

At that juncture, I gave him a word of love and shepherding to help him turn to the Lord. In fact, I encouraged him and showed the way forward for him is just one way. To love the Lord, fear the Lord, and spend time with the Lord and His word and be with the saints. Apart from this, I warned him, I have no other solution and I have nothing else to say. The ball was on his court whether to follow the Lord or do his own will. Through the free and frank fellowship, he was able to see who he really has been all this while. The Lord enlightened him and he did repent for all his misdeeds. I also encouraged him to be in constant fellowship with the saints, enjoy morning revival daily with a brother, and be in the church life in Bengaluru. That's all the message I got from the Lord. And with that, we prayed together.

That was the shepherding at the right time for this brother which the Lord had sovereignly arranged. May the lord continue to grace him, shepherd him, and fully recover his life first, and then his family for the church life.