1 Peter 5:2-3 - God's People

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; (3) not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” If you’ll remember from last time, Peter is talking to the elders of the church. These are his instructions to them… “Be shepherds of God’s flock,” Does that remind you of anything in Peter’s past? When Jesus talked with Peter after the resurrection, Jesus commanded him to “Feed my sheep…tend my lambs”. He called Peter to be the shepherd of His people. A command that Peter gladly shared with others. Notice that the flock is God’s – not the elders’, or even Peter’s. Whether you are a pastor, a teacher, bible study leader, small group facilitator, or any other type of leader in a spiritual setting – you are leading God’s people. They are not “your people” and you are not “the” leader – you are administering God’s grace to God’s people in God’s strength and wisdom. As you oversee those in your care, God oversees you. This truth also applies in less formal settings as well. Those people in your class, the people stuck in traffic with you, everyone at the mall or the ballgame – they are all God’s people. Jesus loves each of them every bit as much as He loves you. Jesus died for them just as He died for you. That should affect the way we treat those around us. Instead of avoiding “the annoying guy at the laundry mat” – look at him as, “God’s child at the laundry mat”. Instead of getting angry every time you see “the jerk at work” – try to see him as “God’s child at work.” Instead making an object out of the “hot girl in my Econ class” – look at her as “God’s daughter in my Econ class”. That one practice will absolutely revolutionize the way you look and deal with people. Labels always devalue or overvalue people. That is what we do isn’t it? We completely devalue some people and then idolize others – neither is healthy or right. The only label we should stick on another person (including yourself) is, “God’s child”. We are all children of God which puts us all on the same plane – which is where we all belong. As Paul says in Gal. 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” He means it. I’ll finish up this passage next time, but here’s a point to ponder for a few days: how do you treat God’s people? Do you label them and shove them in little boxes, some to be ignored, others reviled, and a few to put on a pedestal? Do you love others, not just your friends, but everyone? Do you seek to help, encourage, and be a witness to those around you? Just some questions to get you started…