Shepherd the Flock

…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you…

1 Peter 5

Peter ends his letter to the Christians, who have been spread from Jerusalem across the Roman Empire, writing to the elders of the churches that have been made by this dispersion. Peter exhorts these “elders” to “shepherd the flock of God” as being called by God for such service and not by some sense of obligation, or compulsion, to do so. Peter describes the leadership role of the elders as being a leader of a flock of sheep who follow their shepherd by trusting in the shepherd’s ability to care for the sheep in all spiritual matters. Throughout God’s Holy Word, people are viewed as sheep without a shepherd, having gone astray from the sheep fold of God and being lost in their misery and sin. Peter encourages the shepherds to lovingly lead these sheep so that, when the Chief Shepherd appears, they “will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Younger elders are to be submissive to the older elders who have experienced more of the Good Shepherd’s love, grace and, mercy and can learn from them humility and humbleness. Peter, lastly, reminds the Christians that Satan and his demons are like roaring lions going about seeking whom they may devour. Demonic powers are more powerful than humans and are to be avoided, not exorcised as Jesus and the Apostles were able to do. Peter ends his letter with a doxology to God who “will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” After recognizing a few special helpers to Peter, he concludes this first letter to the diaspora of Christians. In the sense that we, today, are, also, exiles living in a land not our own, we are to live our lives in service to the One who has saved our soul and calls us to spread the gospel message to all who will hear us. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless each one of His sheep until the day He brings us into the Holy Sheep Fold of Heaven!

Source: S C Ball September 29, 2023