Conversation between two believers about shepherds
"Honestly, sister, I used to shrug it off, but lately I feel like there’s no true love in our shepherds."
"Hold on - why are you evaluating whether their love is true or not?"
"Well, selfless love is the central teaching of Jesus, right? Shouldn’t shepherds be the ones role-modeling it?"
"So you’re expecting them to love you selflessly?"
"Yes, of course."
"What about you, then? Are you loving your shepherds selflessly?"
"Well… yes, to my best, as feasible."
"Notice that? You expect perfection from them, while giving yourself room to do only what’s feasible. Honestly, brother, I think you’re craving your shepherd’s love instead of God’s love."
"Huh? What do you mean? Doesn’t the Bible ask shepherds to love their flock?"
"It absolutely does. Shepherds are called to love - but aligned to the principles of Christ, not by meeting every expectation or desire we have."
"What’s the difference?"
"Many of us define 'love' as someone agreeing with us, comforting us, or catering to what we want - even when those desires aren’t aligned with Christ. Where in the Bible does it tell us to expect shepherds to satisfy our personal desires instead of pointing us to Him?"
"That hits hard. I think I’ve been calling it 'a lack of love' whenever they didn’t meet my expectations."
"When you anchor your heart in God’s love first, you stop demanding that imperfect shepherds carry a weight only Christ can hold - and you’ll actually be free to love them selflessly too."
"Hold on - why are you evaluating whether their love is true or not?"
"Well, selfless love is the central teaching of Jesus, right? Shouldn’t shepherds be the ones role-modeling it?"
"So you’re expecting them to love you selflessly?"
"Yes, of course."
"What about you, then? Are you loving your shepherds selflessly?"
"Well… yes, to my best, as feasible."
"Notice that? You expect perfection from them, while giving yourself room to do only what’s feasible. Honestly, brother, I think you’re craving your shepherd’s love instead of God’s love."
"Huh? What do you mean? Doesn’t the Bible ask shepherds to love their flock?"
"It absolutely does. Shepherds are called to love - but aligned to the principles of Christ, not by meeting every expectation or desire we have."
"What’s the difference?"
"Many of us define 'love' as someone agreeing with us, comforting us, or catering to what we want - even when those desires aren’t aligned with Christ. Where in the Bible does it tell us to expect shepherds to satisfy our personal desires instead of pointing us to Him?"
"That hits hard. I think I’ve been calling it 'a lack of love' whenever they didn’t meet my expectations."
"When you anchor your heart in God’s love first, you stop demanding that imperfect shepherds carry a weight only Christ can hold - and you’ll actually be free to love them selflessly too."
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