“Woe to the shepherds...”

Jeremiah 23:1-4, “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord. Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

Sadly there are many who call themselves shepherds today, who think that they must protect their flock from the harsh reality of sin and the eternal penalty attached to it. Anyone who denies the reality of fallen humanity has never spent any time in a nursery. There are things that these precious, unsullied little ones do that no one every taught them: lying, hair pulling, fighting, biting, spitting! In fact, they have to be taught not to do certain things at an early age or they likely will never learn it. Fortunately, God is in control and He has promised to bring His scattered flock together in security!

Give us wisdom in training up both natural and spiritual children in the way that they ought to go lest we cause any of these little ones to stumble.