Shepherding by Being Responsible

Bearing responsibility is not an easy task in oneself. The only one Person who bears responsibility fully well is the Lord Jesus Himself, the Chief Shepherd. Today, in His heavenly ministry, He still shoulders His responsibilities by shepherding His children to shoulder the same responsibilities He bears. By His mercy, I believe I am one of the "shepherds" he has been shepherding to shepherd others. As such a one, I am still learning to shepherd.

As a brother in the church, as a serving one in the literature service, and as a father in my family, I too have enough responsibilities to handle day by day. I have been learning this lesson of taking the Lord as my Shepherd in shepherding others. On the one hand, it is a difficult task but on the other hand, it is an easy task as the Lord Himself is the One who does the shepherding, though maybe through me too.

One of our serving ones had been suffering from a disease in his internal organs for many years. The matter was brought to my notice while the proofreading work was going on. In fellowship with the other brothers, we immediately decided to take care of his health. So, it was my responsibility to take him for all the medical tests and make sure that all that needed to be done was actually done before the project was over, even before he went back to his hometown.

This was a wonderful opportunity the Lord bestowed upon me to be responsible and at the same time shepherd him by discharging my responsibility. From finding a doctor to consult his case to taking him to different tests in different parts of Bengaluru, purchasing all the medicines prescribed, and making sure that all needs were taken care of.  Yes, it was a responsibility from my side, but it was more an opportunity for shepherding him.

I am truly thankful to the Lord that this matter came to light during our stay in Bengaluru and that within the period of our stay there, all medical tests and care were taken care of. This was a real shepherding to the brothers as this was what he had been waiting for for years as he confessed that though he knew what to do, he postponed it due to lack of financial assistance. The Lord had provided all the needs at the right time. Most importantly, I was especially graced to be a brother who could take responsibility for all the needs and discharged them in time in a way of shepherding.

Just by discharging my responsibility, I was actually shepherding the saints. Prasie the Lord for this grace.