Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Peter 5
To the Elders and the Flock
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
What Does This Mean?
As Peter counsels the church, he turns to the leaders, the elders, who he also calls “shepherds”. The elders/overseers main job was to shepherd the sheep, by being an example to the flock. Just as the power in Jesus’ leadership was in his willingness to submit to the Father and serve others without regard for personal gain, so the best leaders exhibit “servant leadership”. As we say, “leadership has its privileges we get to serve!”
The best way to disciple others is being by being a disciple yourself. You can’t lead someone where you are unwilling to go. When Jesus said “follow me”, he was leading by example. He was demonstrating through His life how to follow the Father in the power of the Spirit. And God doesn’t need people to be shepherds, it is a privilege. Those who enter ministry should do it out of a sense of calling, and a willing heart, not for any other reason especially greed.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means now more than ever. The church needs leaders/shepherds whose primary qualification for leadership is they are a Christ-follower themselves. Also, we see that in order to truly accomplish the mission of making disciples, there needs to be a laboratory for learning. Discipleship happens “life on life” with one person investing His life in another one on one, or in small groups. Jesus’ the greatest disciple-maker and shepherd of all time, could only handle 12 persons and even one of his didn’t make it through.
Often in the church we get so caught up in programs that try to satisfy a consumer mindset that we don’t have time to make disciples. We have that backwards. What the church needs is not more programs to keep people happy, but more shepherds leading people in the example of Christ. Not easy work, but worth it in the end when Jesus, our Chief Shepherd comes to give these faithful shepherds a crown of glory that will never fade away.
Jesus, thank you for being a Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down His life for His sheep. Send faithful shepherds to be examples to every church until You return in glory. Amen.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
What Does This Mean?
As Peter counsels the church, he turns to the leaders, the elders, who he also calls “shepherds”. The elders/overseers main job was to shepherd the sheep, by being an example to the flock. Just as the power in Jesus’ leadership was in his willingness to submit to the Father and serve others without regard for personal gain, so the best leaders exhibit “servant leadership”. As we say, “leadership has its privileges we get to serve!”
The best way to disciple others is being by being a disciple yourself. You can’t lead someone where you are unwilling to go. When Jesus said “follow me”, he was leading by example. He was demonstrating through His life how to follow the Father in the power of the Spirit. And God doesn’t need people to be shepherds, it is a privilege. Those who enter ministry should do it out of a sense of calling, and a willing heart, not for any other reason especially greed.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means now more than ever. The church needs leaders/shepherds whose primary qualification for leadership is they are a Christ-follower themselves. Also, we see that in order to truly accomplish the mission of making disciples, there needs to be a laboratory for learning. Discipleship happens “life on life” with one person investing His life in another one on one, or in small groups. Jesus’ the greatest disciple-maker and shepherd of all time, could only handle 12 persons and even one of his didn’t make it through.
Often in the church we get so caught up in programs that try to satisfy a consumer mindset that we don’t have time to make disciples. We have that backwards. What the church needs is not more programs to keep people happy, but more shepherds leading people in the example of Christ. Not easy work, but worth it in the end when Jesus, our Chief Shepherd comes to give these faithful shepherds a crown of glory that will never fade away.
Jesus, thank you for being a Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down His life for His sheep. Send faithful shepherds to be examples to every church until You return in glory. Amen.
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