true shepherd vs hireling

Over the years, I have had many pastors, mentors, spiritual leaders come into and go out of my life.

Recently, a dear friend of mine pointed out that there is a difference between a shepherd set over you in authority by God Himself, vs a self-promoting hireling facsimile of a shepherd or leader.

One really good way to make sure you are not with a hireling, is to observe how he or she treat other people. I had someone say to me at one time, "I care mostly for my inner group of people and I will not take the time to hear the cry of those "outside." As I heard that, I thought about the Shepherd, Jesus, who taught about how a true shepherd would leave his main flock of sheep just to seek out the one that was lost. I'd say anything other than this attitude, would denote a hireling view on things.

Thankfully, I'm under a true shepherd placed over me by God Himself. Sometimes, this shepherd doesn't understand me or agree with me, but I know that when I wander astray, he will seek me out to restore me to the fold. Even when I had strayed for a while, this person continued to remind me that he was there and loved me and was ready for me to return home whenever I was led to. He never forced me to come back to the family. He just informed me about what was going on while I was away. One day, when I'd exhausted all resources, I once again read about the happenings in the family, and I decided to run home to papa. Just like with God, papa wasn't angry with me and he welcomed me home as the prodigal child that I was.

I'm very grateful that some shepherds understand the heart of Father and do their best to live according to that, treating others with the same love that God Himself does.

Blessings,
~a very grateful daughter,
~Laura