2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Today’s passage begins 1 PET 5, which is a message from Peter to the flock of God. The first part of this section is directed at the elders of the church, but has important implications for anyone in leadership positions even today. 1 PET 5: 1-4, “I, who am an elder myself, appeal to the church elders among you. I am a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and I will share in the glory that will be revealed. I appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock that God gave you and to take care of it willingly, as God wants you to, and not unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care, but examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lose its brightness.” You may wonder how Peter knows that he (and other faithful, responsible elders) will share in the glory that will be revealed. Paul wrote about that in COL 3: 3-4, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ and when He appears, then you too will appear with Him and share His glory!”
Our beloved Pastor Emeritus, Paul Photenhauer, is a man I respect highly. To summarize his 33 years of leadership in our congregation in a short devotion like this would be impossible. However, he left us with two crucial messages which in my opinion reveal God’s will for His congregations and for their leadership. He said that a congregation should be a place of acceptance, profession, and proclamation on one occasion. On another, he spoke of his belief that church leaders are held to a higher standard than others, meaning they have a greater responsibility and can suffer greater negative consequences if these responsibilities aren’t carried out in a Godly manner. That last statement is no reason for someone qualified to be a church leader to be afraid to take on that responsibility. Pastor Paul is an obedient servant of God and set a fine example for the rest of us. Being obedient means that if God has called a person to leadership, the person should answer that call, considering it a privilege given by His grace. A good leader knows that all privileges are balanced by responsibilities that should be carried out in accordance with God’s will.
1 TIM 3: 1-7 makes clear some of the aspects of that higher standard expected of church leaders. “This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work. A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money; he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the devil was. He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.” To these standards Titus 1: 6-9 adds: “…He must not be not be arrogant or quick-tempered, or greedy for money. He must love what is good, be upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which agrees with the doctrine. In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it.”
1 PET 5: 3 tells church leaders, “Do not try to rule over those who have been put in your care…” The example set for us by Christ’s act of humility in washing the feet of His disciples reveals God’s teaching that a real leader comes as a servant, not a despotic king [see JN 13: 1-20]. JN 13: 15-16, “I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. I am telling you the truth: no slave is greater than his master, and no messenger is greater than the One Who sent him.” God’s work can never be accomplished by one person who refuses to delegate authority or who usurps God’s sovereign right to assign tasks to the people He chooses. It is clear that the work of administering and providing spiritual leadership for a congregation is intended to be carried out by several people, each given a specific talent needed in concert with those of the others to accomplish God’s work. RO 12: 6, “So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us.” We must remember that the true leader of any spiritually healthy congregation is Jesus Christ. The tasks God assigns to elders and other church leaders is the service they are to offer to God’s glory in Christ’s name.
What is the “glorious crown that will never lose its brightness” that will be the reward from the Chief Shepherd? Perhaps it is the crown of rejoicing as seen it 1 THESS 2: 19-20. Maybe it is the crown of righteousness as described in 2 TIM 4: 8. JAS 1: 12 and REV 2: 10 talk about the crown of life. Could it be that? One other possibility is the crown of glory as described in COL 3: 4. While I can’t answer these questions, the Lord leads me to believe a faithful servant can receive them all. What I do know is that a faithful church leader or anyone who truly serves God in his life will be abundantly blessed.
PRAYER: O Lord, through Peter, You have given us a message that not only applies to church leaders, but it applies to anyone assigned the responsibility to care for others. Leadership takes many forms and can be a blessing to both the leader and those being led by this “under-shepherd” if it is carried out in accordance with Your will. In a real way, all those in leadership are “under-shepherds” who are guided by the “Chief Shepherd,” Your Son. When they realize this and know You through obeying You, Your work is accomplished; their lives and those of the people whom they serve are blessed as well. Dear Lord, we acknowledge that You have given each of us a talent by Your grace, and that these talents must be pooled to accomplish Your work. No one person can do it alone or has a talent more important that someone else’s. That is one reason why You have put us in congregations. While church leaders are often not paid in money or have very low salaries, we need to realize that the real reward You give them is one that transcends the grave. That reward is so much more valuable. We dedicate ourselves in humility to support our church leaders, making sure they are able to take pleasure in doing their jobs with excellence and enjoy our cooperation in their efforts. To You belongs the glory, honor, adoration, praise, worship, loyalty, trust, and obedience; we pledge that as faithful members of the Body of Christ. In His holy name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at Peter’s words regarding younger men submitting themselves to older ones from 1 PET 5: 5-7, as his message regarding the flock of God continues. The ultimate justice and fairness in God’s method of administering His congregations and delivering spiritual leadership to them is an act of both grace and compassion. The model of God’s love for us is the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. When we make Christ the Lord of our lives as individuals and accept His leadership in our congregations, we are blessed in more ways than I can express. God’s work is done, and we respond to His sovereignty in a way that readies us for that great Day when Christ will meet us in the clouds. My husband, Peter, and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn