Who came first...the shepherd or the sheep?

This is relatively easy to answer-- if no sheep then no need for a shepherd!

I was driving a few years ago near Memphis, Tennessee, when I had this image of a shepard walking behind a herd of sheep. This was puzzling to me at first. In the actual sense we always think of those scenes where the shepherd is out front leading while the sheep follow him everywhere he goes. As I thought about this "vision" I realized that God was trying to show me a concept concerning how to lead as a pastor!

First lets look at the modern church, or at least the image portrayed especially in the mainstream interdenominational settings over the past few years. Its seems that it has all been centered around the "preacher". Its as if the sheep have been given the duty to ensure the preacher gets his "Big Break"!

Where are the pastors that smell like sheep, where are the leaders that know how to serve the body?

Let me bring balance now that I have took you to the "jumping off" place! Just yesterday, in prayer and early morning devotion time with my lovely wife, I was revisited by the Lord concerning my greatest responsibility as a pastor. And that is, "staying connected to HIM". My leadership has to flow from time spent in His presence. If that is my highest priority, then that simplifies my role as a pastor, better said, "that puts everything else in prospective"! Its takes the stress out of the routine.

OK, back to the "vision". I understand that leading from behind does not make sense unless you realize, as a pastor or leader in any area, it is your responsibility to see to it that those you are leading reach their full potential!! This kind of heart will come from your highest priority, which is spending time with "the great Shepherd". If from your heart you can live like, "it is not about you, and your Big Break", just like the "great Shepherd" then the joys of life and leading will be unfathomable!