Jesus is the greatest leader ever to walk the earth. He demonstrated the characteristics that will help each of us lead others to a heavenly home.
First, the Lord seeks the lost. The shepherds of Israel had failed to seek the Lord’s sheep (Ezekiel 34:6-10). The Lord said, “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:11-12).
Second, the Lord feeds His sheep. It does no good to find sheep and then let them starve to death. The Lord, unlike the shepherds of Israel, planned to feed the sheep in a good pasture (Ezekiel 34:2-3, 13-14).
Third, the Lord gives His sheep rest (Ezekiel 34:15). He breaks the captor’s bands (Ezekiel 34:27).
Fourth, the Lord helps the injured and sick, unlike the shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 34:23-24). We need to strive to aid brethren who are spiritually hurting (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20).
Fifth, the Lord keeps His sheep safe. “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods” (Ezekiel 34:25).
Finally, the Lord lovingly leads His sheep (Ezekiel 34:28-31). David wrote of him, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:2-3).
We owe it to the people following us to imitate the Lord in all of these characteristics. Doing so will make it much more likely that they, and we, will have a home in Heaven.
