It's A Must!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you MUST LOVE one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34,35Commanded love is not usually what we think of when we hear someone say, “Thank you for loving me.” In fact, if you were told someone was commanded to love you, you’d probably say, “No way. No Thanks!”Yet it is just what Jesus says, “I’m giving you a new COMMAND. Love one another.” Then He adds, “As I have loved you, you MUST LOVE one another.” These two facts: first, it is a command and second, it has to be done like Jesus did, which is absolutely impossible! Only the grace of God can make it possible.For ministry to be pleasing to God and effective, LOVE is a MUST. When ministry leaders lose sight of this, they and their ministries are on shaky ground. They either fall into the gray shadows of merely going through the motions or they enter the dark valleys of conflicts. LOVING care is needed. It’s a MUST.Without LOVE, Shepherding care is nothing more than a noisy gong or clanging symbol. Apart from God’s grace, it is impossible for us to LOVE hurting pastors, ministry leaders, and congregations. It’s a MUST. Like those we serve, we too must rely fully on Jesus. Since April, through on-site visits, pastor conferences, Skype/conference Calls, and Shiloh guests, Shepherding has been privileged to provide loving care to dozens of pastors, ministry leaders, and congregations. One pastor said, “Thank you for your investment and friendship in my life. God has and is using you to help mold me. Shepherding has rescued my ministry.” Shepherding care was a MUST.