As men committed to living out Faith and Family First, we often face challenges in leading our homes, guiding our children, and loving our wives with the kind of grace, wisdom, and intentionality that God has called us to. The weight of these responsibilities can be heavy, and in a world that often pulls us in every direction, it can be hard to stay grounded in what truly matters.
But there’s a truth that can anchor us: the calling to be an intentional shepherd.
This concept of the Intentional Shepherd is one that I have developed and refined over the past 15+ years through my personal journaling and reflections. It has deeply shaped my understanding of what it means to lead a Christ-centered home. While the idea of shepherding itself is rooted in Scripture, I have worked to bring clarity to how it applies to men today—especially husbands and fathers. This model challenges us to step into our roles with purpose, love, and strength, not simply reacting to life’s demands but choosing to lead with intentionality, foresight, and conviction. Now, I feel called to formally introduce it as a foundational concept for the Men of the Shepherd, guiding men in their roles as leaders in the home and community.
At the heart of this intentional shepherding is pro-active love. This is not a passive, wait-and-see love that responds only when prompted. Instead, it is a love that is in response to Jesus’ love, choosing to actively love others before being prompted. It is a love that looks at the needs of your family, your wife, and your children and steps in—without hesitation, without waiting for them to ask.
In the same way that Christ first loved us and continues to love us with grace and action, we, as intentional shepherds, must love our families. We must love them in the quiet moments, in the challenges, and in the routine tasks of daily life. Pro-active love is not about waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about choosing to love because we’ve been loved first.
In Scripture, we are called to love our wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25) and to be steadfast in loving our children (Colossians 3:21). We are not passive in this calling, but active, making decisions that reflect God’s sacrificial love. Our homes, as the “sheep” of our care, need this kind of love—intentional, unprompted, sacrificial.
The Power of the Sword: The Knight’s Weapon
One powerful image for the intentional shepherd is that of the knight, who carries a sword as his primary weapon. In the same way, we, as men who are called to shepherd our homes, must be armed with a tool of immense power: the Word of God.
The sword is often seen as a symbol of power, authority, and defense. In the Scriptures, the Word of God is referred to as the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). This sword is not one for mere offense; it is a weapon for protecting, for defending, and for cutting through the lies and distractions of the world.
As an intentional shepherd, we must wield this sword carefully and boldly. It is not a weapon for anger or harshness, but one of discernment and protection. We are called to defend our families not just from external threats but from the subtle deceptions that can invade our homes. The sword of the Word is our defense against apathy, distraction, and the forces that would pull us away from the mission of leading our families toward Christ.
In this sense, the intentional shepherd is like a knight—standing firm, sword in hand, protecting his family and leading them with courage and love. His strength comes from the Word of God, his weapon of choice, and the love of Christ that drives him to lead sacrificially.
Looking Ahead
In the coming days, we will continue to unpack the concept of the intentional shepherd, breaking down the key elements that define this calling. Each day, we will explore a critical word that captures the essence of what it means to shepherd our families with purpose. For now, we’ve introduced the idea that an intentional shepherd is a man who leads his family with pro-active love, responding to the love of Christ and extending that love to his wife, children, and the world around him.
Over the next seven days, we will explore five key elements that define the intentional shepherd’s role. Each day, we’ll unpack a single word that reflects how a man can live out this calling: Agape, Friend, Relational, Renewing, and Transformative. These words will give us clarity and direction on how to embrace our leadership with intention, love, and grace.
Stay with me as we continue to explore how this calling can shape our lives and our homes—one word, one day at a time.
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