A FLOCK MENTALITY

Part 3

"He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands"
(Psalm 70-72).

We are back in the New Year to continue our series about having a "flock mentality." God thinks of us as a flock, so we also need to think like God thinks. So far we have looked at how God makes families like a flock, feeds His people like a flock, and gathers them like a flock. He also . .

GUARDS HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Jeremiah 31:10 (HCSB) says, "The One who scattered Israel will gather him. He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock." A faithful shepherd guards his flock day and night. He keeps his flock together and watches that one sheep or a couple of sheep don't lag behind, or get away on their own. As we also watch over our little flock, we not only watch over them individually, but collectively. We know where each one is at all times. Because we have a flock mentality, we are never quite happy until they are all in the fold together.

GUIDES HIS PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK

Psalm 78:52 says, "He made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock." The shepherd is always with his sheep to guide them to the best pasture.

Just as God guides His people like a flock, He wants us to guide our families like a flock also. We learn from His example. There are so many activities for our children to get involved in these days that it's easy for the family to become fragmented as each child gets involved in their individual activity or sport outside the home. Sometimes we may have to say No to certain individual activities in order to keep family intact. Keeping our family like a flock should take precedence over individuality which often turns to selfishness and eventually weakening the family unit.

I also witness the strength of families serving the Lord together, rather than individually. I think of the Waller family and their eleven children who ten years ago went to help the farmers on the West Bank of Israel. They have continued to go back every year with their whole family. Now four of the children are married and the grandchildren are being born. The whole family continues to serve the Lord together as three generations (I should say four generations, because the grandparents have also been involved as much possible also). The strength of their family togetherness is now impacting the world.

The grown children now head up the ministry in so many areas as it continues to expand and enlarge. This last fall they brought 500 helpers from many countries of the world to help harvest the grapes on the mountains of Israel. They are influencing senators and congressmen in the White House as they inform them about Israel. They could never have done this individually. Their strength is their togetherness as a family.

Instead of sending your children on a mission trip on their own, why not go as a family? We are a far greater influence in the world when we do things as a family than individually.

HOLDS US RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FLOCK

Proverbs 27:23 says, "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." The words "be thou diligent" are actually yada in the Hebrew. The next words "to know" are also yada. It is repeated twice. Yada means "to know intimately." God wants us mothers to know exactly what is happening and everything that is going on in our little flock. When we stand before the Judgment Seat, we won't be able to use the excuse that we didn't really know what was happening because we were too busy being involved in this group or that organization, or even ministry in the church. Our first and foremost responsibility is to know what is going on in our flock. This takes vigilant watching.

The second part of the Scriptures says "look well." The word "well" in the Hebrew is a word that means "the heart." The New Living Translation correctly states: "Put your heart into caring for your herds." This is something we have to put our whole heart and soul into. It's not just making sure they are fed, clothed, and safe, but we are to watch over their souls and spirits too.

When God speaks to the shepherds in Ezekiel 34:10 He says, "I will require my flock at their hand."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, please give me your wisdom as I guide and watch over the flock you have given to me. I know that you hold me responsible for caring for them and training them. Help me to be a faithful shepherd. Please help me to understand the importance of guiding them as a flock, not only individually. And please help me to guide them skillfully. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Just as Jesus is the Good Shepherd, I also want to be a good shepherdess of my flock. Each day I will gather, guard, and guide my flock, for this is good shepherding.