![]() NOW I get it! I couldn’t put my finger on exactly how He does that- It’s His loving care, His affirmations and His attentiveness to sustain me! Thank you Boyd Bailey, because I didn’t understand what always happened to me when I sat sad and bewildered, thinking it was always me, because of his harsh accusations. Our Good, Kind and Preciously Benevolent Shepherd pours his love and affection on me with assurance and words from the scriptures to comfort me. And YES I can attest he is well respected at work and around the community. I have no outward scars so it is so hard to prove to anyone this is happening behind closed doors. However, it is very short lived and he returns to the cycle of demeaning, passive-aggressive, prideful emotional and verbal abuse. I see glimmers of change and it makes me hopeful. ![]() The yearning in prayer for change, seeking the Lord to soften his hard heart is constant. ![]() I am living with this so-called Christian man for 20 years. I too get very angry and disturbed when I have to tolerate this type of person. True shepherds walk in manure, and don’t run from wolves. How can I be more accountable in my work, family and relationships? Who can I offer loving accountability with my time and concern? Please heal and restore those who have been deeply wounded, in Jesus’ name, amen. Heavenly Father, my heart breaks for the victims of religious leaders who use their position to exploit others. “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). Loving accountability does not look the other way, but looks below the surface at what’s real. As God stated in the beginning, “It’s not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). A person isolated from the flock, is not accountable to the flock. A man left by himself worships the image of himself. What shall we do to prevent the prostitution of faith in the future? Remember, remember, remember, we do not finish well alone-only with accountability and community. The flock of God will overcome ravaging wolves through trust and hope in our Great Shepherd. We mustn’t forever abandon our faith because of fallen figureheads of a false faith. Our soul can still sup with our ever present Savior Jesus. The pastures of God’s grace are still green, we can recover beside still waters and heal our broken hearts. When a man scatters the sheep by his prideful, divisive behavior, our Great Shepherd goes after the lost and lonely lamb with His great love, grace and mercy. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them” (Ezekiel 34:8-10).įortunately, our heavenly Father does not sit idle as His sheep are exploited, exposed and endangered by shameful shepherds. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. Look closely with the Holy Spirit’s discernment for the fruit is rotten! Outwardly strengthening the weak and binding up the injured, but inwardly allowing the sheep to stray. Outwardly an authentic shepherd, caring for the sheep, inwardly a selfish hired hand, sheering the sheep for gain. Outwardly a smooth teacher with attractive words, inwardly a mercenary manic, luring in his prey. Outwardly gentle as a sheep, inwardly ferocious as a wolf. His word picture is striking-a wolf posing as a sheep. They are captives of their lust, their greed and their sick souls. Ministers who minister for themselves are predators, preying on the weak, the naive and the deceived. ![]() My heart hurts and grieves for the victims: some lost their innocence, some lost their life savings, some lost a respected leader-but all lost. I pray my anger is not fueled by self-righteousness, since I am a fellow sinner with my own struggles and chronic weaknesses. Angry at leaders who use their position of trust and implied integrity to take advantage of children and church members. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 5, 2018 ![]()
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