Leading by Example:

The Shepherd’s Heart

There’s a reason Scripture compares spiritual leadership to shepherding. Sheep are not the fastest learners. They wander off, get stuck in bushes, and sometimes follow each other into trouble. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever tried leading people whether in your home, your ministry, your business, or even just your friend circle you know it’s not easy. Leadership, in the biblical sense, isn’t about power or position. It’s about care. It’s about serving others out of love and obedience to God.

Peter reminds us clearly in 1 Peter 5:2–3, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t Lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”

That verse hits hard if you’ve ever been in charge of anything. It’s easy to slip into thinking leadership means being in control. But Peter flips that idea upside down. He reminds us that leadership is stewardship. The people God places in our care aren’t “ours” they belong to Him. Whether that’s your spouse, your kids, your team, or your church group, you’ve been entrusted with souls, not just tasks.

I think about this often when I look at how I lead my family. It’s tempting to just give orders or expect results, but that’s not what God calls me to do. He calls me to guide to lead by example, not by force. My wife and daughter will learn more from how I handle adversity, how I treat others, and how I walk with Christ than from any words I say. The same goes for anyone under our leadership. People watch more than they listen.

Imagine a shepherd walking ahead of the flock instead of behind them yelling directions. He knows the path. He faces the danger first. He takes the hits before they do. That’s leadership. Jesus Himself modeled it perfectly. He didn’t bark orders from a distance. He walked among the people, touched the untouchable, and served those who would later betray Him.

There’s also an important heart check in this passage “Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly.” That means leading with the right motive. Not because it’s our “duty” or because it looks good on a title, but because we love God and want to honor Him through our service. If you’ve ever led in any capacity, you know that burnout and frustration can sneak in fast. That’s when we need to remind ourselves why we lead in the first place.

We don’t do it for applause. We do it because He’s entrusted something precious to us. When we lead for the wrong reasons—recognition, control, or gain—we miss the heart of the Shepherd. But when we lead willingly, with humility and love, we reflect Christ Himself.

I once heard an old pastor say, “If you have to tell people you’re the leader, you’re probably not leading.” That stuck with me. True leadership doesn’t need to announce itself. It shows up in how you live. It’s in how you pray for those who frustrate you, how you forgive when you could hold a grudge, and how you serve when nobody’s watching.

Leadership in God’s kingdom always starts at the bottom. Jesus said, “The greatest among you must be a servant.” That’s not the world’s model, but it’s the Lord’s. The higher the calling, the lower we must be willing to kneel.

So if you’re leading today at home, at work, in ministry, or anywhere else—remember this: God didn’t put you there to lord over anyone. He put you there to love, to guide, and to point others toward Him.

Reflection:

Who has God placed under your care right now? Are you leading them by example or by expectation? Take time today to pray for the people God has entrusted to you, and ask Him to shape your heart to lead like the Good Shepherd willingly, humbly, and with love.