John 10:12 “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.”
A new character enters the story. The hired hand. He’s not the thief or the robber. He has no ownership of the sheep and therefore won’t lay down his life for the sheep. When the wolf comes, he runs, which leaves the wolf free to snatch at will and scatter the sheep. So it is in churches where there are no shepherds, but the leaders are in it for themselves. They are afraid to love the sheep and confront the wolf. Who is the hired hand? The leader for hire. Who is the wolf? The devil and sin. Jesus came to face the wolf head on and lay down His life in order to save the sheep. That’s what love looks like. Have you put yourself into the hands of a hired hand (someone on earth that you pay with money or praise as your counselor/guide/shepherd) or have you given yourself to the good Shepherd? Be careful, there are many hired hands on the internet and social media.
