Good morning,
People all over the world are trying to figure out how we got into the mess we are in. As usual, frightened and frustrated people have to find a villain to blame. Protesters come in all sort of shapes and sizes, but the common understanding has nothing to do with sin or the anger of a very holy God. That sort of attitude has rubbed off on those of us who are called to be leaders of God’s kids. If things aren’t going well in our ministries or our relationships, we commonly look at the problems through the eyes of professional problem solvers. When we try to handle the challenges of leading others, the most valuable thing we can do is go back to the Author of Life and the Good Shepherd who have an eternity of experience, then listen to what they say. When the Lord gives us directions, he doesn’t tell us about outcomes here in time, but the process we need to follow that will have eternal consequences.
God spoke through Peter long ago and told us what will give us believability as we lead. Our natural self is focused on who we are and what others think of us, but the Lord is clear that we need to be focused on the genuine needs of those under our care. This kind of focus comes from the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom and discernment to deal with more than surface needs. Genuine loving care costs us a lot. It’s challenging work because real change usually takes a long time. We always face the temptation to hurry the process by getting those we lead organized, our way. The Lord calls this reaction “lording it over the people assigned to our care.” It helps to remember that if we are going to lead others by our good example, they have to see us going through the same things they go through in a way that must be from God and not us. The outcome of our obedience isn’t based on what “they” think of us but on what the Great Shepherd has to say when we meet him face to face. It’s not our job to keep everything under control. It’s our anticipation of his “Well done” and the crown of never-ending glory and honor he has promised us that will give us real stability as we face the challenges of serving Him day by day. Lord, please help us to really care.
I Peter 5: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
Roy Wisner
People all over the world are trying to figure out how we got into the mess we are in. As usual, frightened and frustrated people have to find a villain to blame. Protesters come in all sort of shapes and sizes, but the common understanding has nothing to do with sin or the anger of a very holy God. That sort of attitude has rubbed off on those of us who are called to be leaders of God’s kids. If things aren’t going well in our ministries or our relationships, we commonly look at the problems through the eyes of professional problem solvers. When we try to handle the challenges of leading others, the most valuable thing we can do is go back to the Author of Life and the Good Shepherd who have an eternity of experience, then listen to what they say. When the Lord gives us directions, he doesn’t tell us about outcomes here in time, but the process we need to follow that will have eternal consequences.
God spoke through Peter long ago and told us what will give us believability as we lead. Our natural self is focused on who we are and what others think of us, but the Lord is clear that we need to be focused on the genuine needs of those under our care. This kind of focus comes from the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom and discernment to deal with more than surface needs. Genuine loving care costs us a lot. It’s challenging work because real change usually takes a long time. We always face the temptation to hurry the process by getting those we lead organized, our way. The Lord calls this reaction “lording it over the people assigned to our care.” It helps to remember that if we are going to lead others by our good example, they have to see us going through the same things they go through in a way that must be from God and not us. The outcome of our obedience isn’t based on what “they” think of us but on what the Great Shepherd has to say when we meet him face to face. It’s not our job to keep everything under control. It’s our anticipation of his “Well done” and the crown of never-ending glory and honor he has promised us that will give us real stability as we face the challenges of serving Him day by day. Lord, please help us to really care.
I Peter 5: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
Roy Wisner
