Tending the Flock of God

God Loves Us
God's Caring, Saving, and Upholding Love

God as Our Shepherd

1 Peter 5:1-11 The Message

He’ll Promote You at the Right Time

5 1-3 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.
4-5 When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—
God has had it with the proud,
but takes delight in just plain people.
6-7 So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

He Gets the Last Word

8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

For Reflection

Both the Old and New Testaments, warn us about the dangers of false teaching. In the very beginning of the church, opinions about which teaching disciple should be prime, the humanity or deity of Christ, the demand for circumcision, and the inclusion of commonplace culture into the practice and beliefs of the new church abounded.

Today, various versions of Christianity have divided and fragmented the body.  It is sometimes difficult to see as Paul saw, that the body of the Church Universal has many functional parts.  Some are authentic; full of justice, forgiveness, freedom, and right living. Some are wolves in sheep's clothing; deceptive, seductive, and divisive, alluring with false promise.

We forget that God's hand is strong.  We forget that God is capable of judging the authenticity of those who claim Christ as their savior.  In God's own time God will judge.  It is God's right not ours.

Our commission is to love all people. Our commission is to act justly. Our commission is to forgive and to lift ourselves and others into a pattern of right living as exemplified by Christ. We will be known by the fruits of our faithfulness.

Pray

that you will keep your guard up. Pray that you will not be lead into the temptation of self-direction and fear.  Pray that you will seek God's green pastures and find rest among the still waters.  Pray that you will have the patience to trust in God and wait calmly through the suffering for God to make all things right.