“Jesus never outsources his authority to call his people to the work he has for them…God’s sheep need shepherds, but they already have a Lord.” (Skye Jethani)
We are, some of us, called to be under-shepherds, not under-lords.
We are, none of us, proxies or substitutes for the Holy Spirit. We are channels through which the Great Shepherd can manifest his heart.
We are, all of us, sheep under a Shepherd. We must always be mindful that we are just as much in need of care as the person to whom we are ministering.
Whatever activities we engage in the realm of caring for sent ones, these three truths must govern. They will go a long way toward mitigating our best intentions and avoid unintended harm.