S. 1 Peter 5:1-3 (NIV)
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
O. Peter writes to encourage leaders who also experience suffering. He encourages them to be shepherds of God’s flock. This is a nice description for believers who comprise or make up the local church. Those in the local church need oversight, protection, and caring.
He adds how this is to be accomplished or what I would call “the characteristics of an undershepherd (pastor).” They must be willing as opposed to forced, or out of obligation or duty. To be willing it seems would mean there would be some aspect of enjoyment and in my opinion, deemed as necessary by the leader, elder or pastor (undershepherd).
The undershepherd must also be eager to serve. Undersheherds do not need to remind people verbally by saying “I’m the leader”; rather through their caring, willing service they influence those that they are entrusted with. There is no “my way or the high way.” It’s serving with humility (honoring others).
Finally, Peter teaches us that undershepherds must lead by example. Those in the flock should see how the undershepherd carries themselves (that is how they live life before others) and desire to follow. They are not to be replicas, per se, rather; they are to see the godly values and disciplines that the undershepherd works out in his or her life, and they are then to desire those similar values and disciplines in their own life. This also means that when the undershepherd has a failure in life, they are exemplary in how they manage that failure and move forward. Undersherds are to be “blameless” (1 Tim. 3) but are not sinless.
A. I thank God putting in my heart a willingness ot care for God’s flock (the local church). I am thankful for the example of other undershepherds (pastors) who have exemplary in their lives for the Christ and for the Lord putting that similar desire to serve Him (willingly, eagerly and I pray that I’ve been and will continue to be exemplary). In Jesus name!
P. Thank you Father for your word today and for calling me to serve you as an undershepherd (pastor) of the Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to continue in that very special annointing. Thank you for the exemplarly lives of other undersherds that have served you with integrity and are such great examples. Holy Spirit grant me wisdom and insight to be a positive example of the Lord Jesus to all that I encounter. In Jesus’ name!
