But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Philippians 2:17 NIV
Poured Out
The Hudson Bay drainage basin coincides almost completely with the former territory of Rupert’s Land, claimed by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the 17th century. The largest river system within the Hudson Bay drainage basin is the Nelson River. While the Nelson runs a relatively short 644 kilometres from Lake Winnipeg to the Hudson Bay, its tributaries extend as far west as the Rocky Mountains. From the Hudson Bay to Nelson River’s farthest tributary, the Bow River, it has a length of 2,575 kilometres and a drainage basin of over one million square kilometres.
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Jesus compares two shepherds in John 10 – the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, and the hired shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep and will flee at the first sign of danger, leaving the sheep unprotected. There is a reason why your pastor is called that – it comes from the Latin word “shepherd.” Whether in full-time ministry or not, every one of us has those in our lives for whom we have some responsibility for their spiritual lives. They could be people in our family, someone we’ve led to the Lord, or is in a small group. We are called by Jesus to be a good shepherd, to be willing to lay down our lives for those for which He has given us responsibility. This is how Paul describes himself in this role, in Philippians 2:17: “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” Paul loved the people for which he was responsible, so much so that he was willing to lay down his life for them. That’s a good shepherd.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley