ICS Daily Devotions
Shepherd His Sheep
1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
Peter was dealing with the issue of submission and pride in the church. The believers were persecuted for their obedience to Christ and suffered rejection from the people in the world. Peter was trying to encourage the believers who were mostly Gentiles because they have gone through trials and tribulation. The former life of these people was full of lewdness, drunkenness, and idolatries. The fiery trials came about because unbelievers started to persecute these Christians for being different from the past.
Nevertheless, they still struggled with some issues from their previous life. They were encouraged by Peter to live a different lifestyle and to deal with their soul, especially their pride. The need was to set these things in order. It was even more challenging as the new Christians entered into a church setting where there was a need to walk out the truth based on what they had believed.
1 Pet 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;3 nor as being lords 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 does not fade away.
Some of the believers were becoming leaders. God has a certain expectation of His leaders, especially those who are called to be shepherds to care for His sheep. This is a universal truth for all generations of Christians. When we serve God, it has to be out of a willing heart. We serve with no strings attached because the people of God have been entrusted to us. He expects us to lead by example from the front and not behind the flock. He expects us to gather the people and go in one direction because He does not want His sheep to be led astray and be devoured by the wolves, the bears and the lions. Therefore, regardless whether you are a cell group leader, cluster leader, board member or ministry head, it is expected of us to be a responsible and loving leader.
Jeremiah 23:1-3 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the LORD.2Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the LORD.3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
God was referring to the Israelites in this passage who have been scattered because of irresponsible shepherds. He entrusted them with a certain responsibility and they were accountable to the sheep. God will always entrust His people to leaders or shepherd and place them under their care. He expects us to attend to their needs, show them love and pastoral care. Sheep are expected to walk as one fold.
Therefore, in the church setting, it is important to identify a home church and run with the church vision and direction. It is not normal to be walking “with different sheep folds” on different Sundays. The sheep need to identify the Shepherd and recognize His voice. Likewise, the members of a church need their leader to lead and guide them to ensure they are walking in the ways of the Lord. When a church walks as one fold, there will be spiritual protection and the local church can also achieve what the Lord has entrusted the Shepherd and the flock to do.
Sermon series: There is power in the seed
