# 3: One who is concerned for his followers / flock

Matt.8:5-13 - The Faith of the Centurion

Here we see a centurion seeking Jesus' help for his servant.
It's quite unusual that the boss is concerned for his servant, when usually it's the other way around.

This man was desperate seeing the condition of his servant.
- Do we care enough for our flocks / for our followers?
- Do we see them struggle?
- Does that move us with compassion?

Many times we can be so ignorant, naive & oblivious to what is going on around us - are we so self-centered that we are blinded to such realities?

This centurion let aside his dignity / pride / reputation, when he came to seek after the Lord Jesus.
When Jesus saw his faith, He was 'astonished' & made a remark about his 'great faith'.
God notices the minute things we do with integrity and He will be pleased.

- Are we causing astonishment or embarrassment to the Lord?
- Are we astonishing the Lord or our followers?


Combine this thought with a strong word I received this morning to be praying for the leaders everywhere, especially for myself and those around me from Ezekiel chp.34, about the Shepherds and the Sheep.

To say the least, God was not pleased with the Shepherds in those days, as these people were only concerned about their own welfare ... (vs.3-6)
* they didn't care enough for their flocks
* they didn't care to bind their wounds
* they let them wander and stray about ...

So, God said He will shepherd them Himself (vs.11-16).

These are the words of caution for us:
- Are we exploiting our followers / our flocks, so we can live a better life (vs.3)?
- Will God be pleased with our kind of leadership and shepherding, or will He want to take over?


And there is a purpose for that - Ezek.34:30,31 - "Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord".

As a shepherd, we are called to point them to the Lord, not to ourself!
God is not just interested in our welfare alone, but those whom He has entrusted to us to care for as well.