Day 250.
The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4 ESV)
In this indictment of the shepherds of Israel we find at least some of the expectations of the leaders of Israel for the people. In addition to feeding the sheep, they were to 1) strengthen the weak, 2) heal the sick, 3) bind up the injured, 4) bring back the strays, 5) seek out the lost.
This gives us insight for developing our church leaders and heads of families. We are to 1) strengthen the faith of the weak by feeding the Word and walking alongside to show how to exercise that faith, 2) care for the sick through prayer and support, 3) speak words of grace to the inured and treat with compassion, 4) pursue those who have strayed spiritually or stopped coming, 5) be involved in evangelism.
