HONOURABLE JOB
READ: Hebrews 5:1-14
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
Those who work in the banks have a job in things pertaining to dollars, pounds, shillings and cedis. Those who work in hospitals have a job in things pertaining to the human body, sickness and disease. When you are a shepherd, you have a job in things pertaining to God. It is a great honour to be ordained to have a job in things pertaining to God.
Those who work as shepherds spend their time offering gifts and sacrifices to God. What an honourable job when you are constantly interacting with Almighty God on behalf of people. It is a privilege to be a go-between between the people and God. It is an honour to know about the gifts and sacrifices that people are making to their God. These are private things that you are privileged to know about. What an honourable job this is, to relate directly with God.
A person who is chosen to be a shepherd is expected to have compassion on the ignorant. God gives you the discretion to care for people in the best way you can. Imagine that your job is to show mercy and kindness to people who need it! Is it not God who shows mercy to people? Are you not being given a job where you have to act like God and show kindness to people? What an honourable and highly esteemed position God is giving to you!
If you were qualified to do the job of a shepherd, perhaps, it would be different. But you clearly do not qualify. You are yourself compassed about with sin and iniquity. Peter knew that he was not a shepherd because he was a holy man (Acts 3:12). What a privilege therefore it is to find a place in the leadership of the church!