Devotion for Friday 13 MAY 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Friday 13 MAY 2011 Anno Domini
“1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:1-7)
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.” Peter is about to issue stern counsel to the elders of the church in their approach and dealings with the people over whom God has favored them to be placed. He is warranted fully to provide such counsel in that he, too, is an elder. Not an elder only, but one who was witness to the terrible events of the Crucifixion and the night preceding in which he denied his Lord thrice ere the cock crowed. He was hurt more deeply than them all by the sufferings of Christ as a result of his weakness in denying the Lord. That weakness was the very line by which he was drawn closer still to our Lord and His labors.
“Feed the flock of God which is among you.” As understudies of the Great Shepherd, we are to be good subordinate shepherds in feeding the flock of God which is among us. They are ‘among’ us because we, too, are one of them. The responsibility in feeding these lambs is based on our wisdom in knowing the place of good pastures and, also, in supplying their want of refreshing waters which come from heaven above. The ‘food’ is the living Word (Truth) of God which came down and dwelt among us and is our very Bread. More than physical bread and shelter, it is our responsibility to provide this Living Bread and Living Waters for the nourishment and nurture of the soul. No charitable service provides a greater gain than the Greater Bread and Greater Waters of God above. Of course, if we are to feed a multitude, we must be possessed of a greater supply of that which we serve.
“Taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly.” Such an honor is it to be a shepherd, under the Great Shepherd, that we should never hesitate to accept the role. The calling to the order should be irresistible to the man of God. If we are asked by the church to perform a task for which the Lord has gifted us, we should be like a man on fire to do it, not begrudgingly and with hesitation, but with great love and enthusiasm.
“Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” The mind which is set on material gain cannot access the spiritual wealth offered in God. Such a mind is not fit for the lower counsels of the just, and certainly not the high calling of God to “feed His sheep.” The right mind for the task is a “ready mind.” The ready mind is prepared through diligent study and wisdom gleaned from God’s Holy Scriptures. And the ready mind is one which ‘stands at the ready as a true soldier-courier’ to deliver the message even behind enemy lines!
“Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Profoundly applicable to today’s church! How can a minister be an example to the church when his surpassing greed is evidenced in his every sermon and plea? No man is called to follow Christ through compulsion. Why do ministers believe they have right of ownership over the sheep that belong to the Lord of the Vineyard? Our ministries must be carried out in love, understanding, wisdom, and, yes, courage! And to what end?
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” Not IF the Chief Shepherd will appear, but WHEN! The crown that we may receive is one which must not be sought after, but awarded out of Grace by God. It is not the goal, but the benefit of our labors and faithfulness. It is for the stars in Christ’s Crown for which we labor – His Glory – and none of our own. If God deigns to honor us with a crown, the gift should be a surprise to us. And once given, such a crown remains stellar and lasting as fine gold and silver.
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.” Prideful youth and its attendant impulses must be subjugated to the more seasoned and wise in the church. It is better to bend the knee on earth than in the fires of Hell.
“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility.” We are each to be subject to one another? How can this be? When we are all subject to Christ and His Counsel, there are no differences which arise. Contentions arise out of misplaced pride and arrogance. The first glimpse a stranger has of us is our clothing. Our humility should be as noticeable and obvious as our apparel. And why be humble? “For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” It would be hard labor to work against the resistance of God, but a man full of grace is he who labors under a humble spirit. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” In due time – not immediately! He will exalt you in His time and not YOURS.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Not SOME of your cares, but ALL of them! How can we trust the Lord to bear our burdens? The reasons are many. He is able, He is willing, and He careth for YOU! Amen.