True shepherds want to encourage everyone onwards in the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
True leaders work themselves out of a position continually trying to raise up others, they never try to be in demand or control but rather are subservient to the Lord’s will. Servant leaders are genuine and real about their walk with the Lord, their faults and weaknesses. Paul exemplifies this when he says: “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.”
There has never been a faultless perfect leader in the body of Christ but rather weak, broken vessels that God has raised up for His glory to build a testimony for His Name. Moses was being prepared by the Lord as a vessel for His purposes in the earth. When God was finished with Moses, he was inadequate and a nobody in the eyes of the world. When His man was ready, reduced to nothing weak and useless in his own flesh, God said, “he’s ready!” Leaders in the body of Christ must be humble and broken from the Lord’s hand to be truly useful in His kingdom.
Believers will recognize the gift and calling of leadership on a brother and as an early Church document states: “Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of money, and truthful and proved; for they also render to you the service of prophets and teachers. Therefore do not despise them, for they are your honored ones, together with the prophets and teachers.”
May we honor those the Lord puts in the body to mature and help us along the narrow way to conformity to the image of God’s Son.
True shepherds realize they are accountable to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ and will be judged more harshly for what they have taught and done. Therefore they serve in the fear of the Lord, in meekness, grace and love, considering others better than themselves. Servant leaders lastly have a main purpose, which is to bring all the body to unity in Jesus Christ and to protect them from division and doctrines of demons. God has given servant leaders the ministry of protecting His precious Bride on the earth. To keep her as a chaste virgin to Christ till His coming. Such is a great responsibility and honor as servant leaders shepherd and love the body of Christ as Christ loves Her deeply.