Being Constituted with Christ vs Living a Shepherding Life

 

Being Constituted with Christ vs Living a Shepherding Life

Eph. 3:17a – “That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith.”
John 21:15–17 – “…Feed My lambs… Shepherd My sheep… Feed My sheep.”

1 Pet. 5:2, 4 – “Shepherd the flock of God among you… And when the Chief Shepherd is manifested, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

Aspect	Being Constituted with Christ	Living a Shepherding Life
Meaning	Christ is continually dispensed and infused into us so that our being is constituted with Him (Eph. 3:17a; Col. 3:10–11). This is a constitution in life and nature, not merely outward imitation.	A life that flows out of being constituted with Christ, caring for, supplying, and shepherding others with His life (John 21:15–17).
Distinction	Focuses on the inward constitution of life: we are reconstituted with the divine element and live out Christ (Col. 3:10).	Focuses on the outward expression and action: because Christ is within, we spontaneously shepherd (1 Pet. 5:2; John 10:11).
Mutual Relationship	Without being constituted with Christ, true shepherding is impossible; constitution is the root of shepherding.	Shepherding is not a mere duty but the natural outflow of being constituted with Christ.
Examples	Paul experienced Christ as his life, even in prison, and could still shepherd the churches (Col. 1:27; Phil. 1:20–21).	Peter, after being restored by the Lord, shepherded the Lord’s sheep out of the love of Christ (John 21:15–17).
Application	We need to let God dispense Himself into us, experiencing more transformation and constitution (2 Cor. 13:14).	As we are constituted, we spontaneously supply life to others; Christ in us is the real Shepherd (1 Pet. 2:25; Heb. 13:20).
Key Scriptures (Expanded)	Col. 1:27 – “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 3:10–11 – “And have put on the new man, who is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… where Christ is all and in all.” 2 Cor. 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”	John 10:11 – “I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” 1 Pet. 2:25 – “For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Heb. 13:20 – “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, in the blood of an eternal covenant…”

 

Key Points:

• Being constituted with Christ is the root of genuine shepherding. Without it, shepherding is merely human effort.
• Shepherding life is the outflow of Christ’s constitution within us.
• We must first have life in order to supply life; then shepherding becomes spontaneous and real.

 

Conclusion:

“Being constituted with Christ” and “living a shepherding life” are two inseparable aspects: the inward constitution and the outward expression. The more we are constituted with Christ, the more naturally we live a shepherding life, not out of duty but out of Christ Himself as the Shepherd in us.

 

*Please refer to the June 2025 Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Chapter 10: Shepherding According to God