1 Peter: Is All of This Worth It?预览

Being a shepherd during biblical times wasn’t a glamorous job. They were pretty low on the social totem pole. They were able to make some money and could support a family, but they probably smelled and looked dirty most of the time. They spent more time with animals than they did with other humans. It was a hard and grueling job. However, shepherds knew their flock intimately. If one sheep went missing, they knew. In turn, sheep knew their shepherd intimately. When the shepherd called, they came because they recognized the sound of his voice. This relationship between the shepherd and his flock is used throughout scripture to represent the relationship between Jesus and the church.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows and loves His people intimately. If one goes missing, He will stop at nothing to find them. Peter is reminding church leaders that they are called to do the same for their own flock. To shelter from the storms, to find the one who strays, to lead to the best place to thrive and grow.

Jesus has chosen the church, and everyone in it, to be the vessels in which the larger Kingdom of God would grow. Nothing grows without being fed and cared for. The leaders of this church have a very important job to do. 

ASK:

-How can you (and the church as well) do a better job at caring for the people in your life?

-How have you seen or felt Jesus as the Good Shepherd in your life?

TAKE A NEXT STEP:

Spend time today praying for the leaders in your church.