13/10/2013 - GOD EXALTS

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Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

I Peter 5:6

The messages Jesus gives us through Peter are of the utmost importance. One of them concerns the shepherding of His flock. By identifying Himself as one of the elders – His fellows in ministry – the Lord exhorted them to shepherd God’s flock among them. It is a very noble mission to help the Lord’s sheep to flee from the snares of the enemy, to grow in the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ and not to go astray.

Peter speaks of the glory that shall be revealed. In their daily lives, those who seek to shepherd God’s people see the glory of the Lord being revealed through them by way of message, prayer and guidance, but the great glory will be revealed with the coming of the Messiah. They should not shepherd by compulsion, but willingly, as is the desire of the Lord. We do this as a commandment without ever deviating from this standard.

He who shepherds for dishonest gain offends the Lord of the Sheepfold (I Peter 5:2). On the other hand, those who do it willingly will receive the favor of the Lord in everything they do. This work should be done by everyone, because those who you led to Christ will heed you every time you convey the Word of faith to them. Shepherding is making the flock lie down in green pastures, beside still waters (Psalm 23), and keeping the sheep from the beasts that threaten them.

Shepherding should not be done by compulsion but willingly. People need to understand the divine message so that they do not do anything outside the heavenly guidance. The elders – those who are in charge of caring for the flock – should be examples in all things (I Peter 5:3), because the newborns in faith must learn from those who have already undergone several trials without stumbling. Thus, the newly converted will also be steadfast in obedience to the true and supreme Shepherd.

Those who do this work with love will be given the supreme crown of glory (verse 4). The Father will not fail to reward them. We do not know what this crown is like, but Peter states that it will never fade away. This gift will remain with us for eternity just like we will receive it on the day of the manifestation of the Lord. What awaits those who are faithful to the divine commandment goes beyond human understanding (I Corinthians 2:9). It pays off to be loyal!

Newcomers to the work of God should be submissive to those who already serve the Lord for a long time for they have learned more about the Father and, therefore, they can help the ones who are in the early stages of this glorious path. Besides, the new Christians should always be clothed with humility because the Lord resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (I Peter 5:5). Leave your own thoughts behind and do what the Almighty tells you, because whoever humbles himself under the hand of God shall be exalted.

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares