1 Peter 5:2-4 NLT
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. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
The only way we start to identify the “flock” entrusted to us is when we get involved with those around us when we start to take a sincere, active interest in the lives of our family, neighbors, friends, and co-workers.
Not for what we get out of it but out of a sincere eagerness to serve God.
We don’t continually remind those around us of everything we do for them because we don’t do it for them; we are doing it because God has asked us to do it for Him.
He ministers to His people through us, not around or outside of us unless we refuse to participate, then He will do it through someone else.
Make no mistake about it, He will accomplish His goal, with or without us.
And how do we lead and minister to those around us?
“…by your own example.”
Here is the example that Jesus asks us to follow:
John 13:1-17 NLT
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
WOW!!!
Look at a couple of things here:
1. The Creator of the universe lowered Himself to a position and a task that was generally given to the lowliest of slaves.
He humbled Himself to complete the outside cleaning, later to complete the inside cleaning of their’s and our sins on the cross the next day.
2. He cleaned the feet of of ALL the disciples.
This included the traitor, Judas, as well as the prideful, Peter.
He has the power to know who is saved and who is not, who is proud and who is not.
But He cleaned their feet regardless.
We have no way of knowing the true condition of the hearts of those around us. Jesus cleaned the feet of Judas, knowing the events to come and did it anyway.
We do not have this insight. So we are to minister to everyone’s needs the best we can, whether we think they deserve it or not.
Luke 6:32-33 NLT
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!
There will be those who, even though we bend over backward for them, will demand even more.
I am finding that when I start to bring this to God, saying, “God, I’ve submitted as much as I can here, how much more do I go here? Please, Lord, help me here?”
The answer I get back more and more is “I’ve given you everything, you’ve got more to give. Continue giving.”
This is usually accompanied by a resurgence of energy, peace, and joy to continue.
Praise God!!
3. I can’t do this living outside of the Will of God.
The hope, wisdom, and direction that I need to accomplish this are found only in the Word of God.
The more I read with a submitted, prayerful Spirit, the more insight I receive, and the more energy I get, which results in a change in behavior that exhibits the Spirit’s fruit, love.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
I also realize that I have to do this for as long as God graciously provides my body with the ability to breathe the oxygen He provides.
This may fill some with anxiety, but it should provide a feeling quite the opposite.
The serenity prayer calls for us “to live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time.”
When we make Jesus Christ the central focus of our lives, this will provide us with an overwhelming desire to serve.
It should provide us with a desire to be up and out before the sun comes up and a willingness to soldier on and stand firm until our heads hit the pillow at night.
And look at the reward…
“And when the Great Shepard appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” ❤️
Heavenly Father, I pray for the souls of those around me. I pray that they see You with every word I say and every action I take.
Let my attitude, words, and actions overflow with grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. Let Your Spirit fill me with the willingness to serve You in whatever capacity that You need.
Help me to remain humbled and submitted to Your Will, giving me the overwhelming desire to study Your Word coupled with strength, courage, and discernment to follow You with an ever-expanding faith in You.
Dear Jesus reign in my heart and help me to see others the way You do.
I pray this in the name of my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!! 🙏🏻❤️
