The Flock Is His

Peter opens with a job description, and before he says a word about the work, he tells us whose flock it is. "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you." The elders don't own it. The pastor doesn't own it. God does, and He placed it among them.

That one line changes how a church thinks about leadership. Peter names three ways shepherds go wrong: serving out of obligation, serving for what they can get, and running the flock like a boss. Our shepherds want to avoid all three, and they need a congregation that makes that easier. When the Chief Shepherd appears, Peter says, they will receive an unfading crown of glory.

So what do the sheep do with that? Three things.

Know your shepherds. Learn their names, their families, and what they're carrying. It's hard to follow someone you've only ever waved at across the parking lot. Ask one of them this week how you can pray for him.

Pray for them. Shepherding a church is heavy work, and every member of that church has an opinion about how it's going. Pray that they would lead willingly and eagerly, and that their homes would be well. Hebrews 13:17 says leaders should do their work "with joy and not with groaning." A congregation has a surprising amount of say in which one they get. An honest word of encouragement goes a long way, and so does following gladly when the direction is clear.

Let yourself be found. A shepherd can't care for a sheep he can't find. If you've been drifting, arriving late, slipping out early, keeping everyone at arm's length, let somebody know you. Peter knew about wandering. He wrote, "You were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." The One who went and found you is the reason any of this is possible.

Church, the flock is His. Pray like it, follow like it, and keep your eyes on the Chief Shepherd. He is coming back for what belongs to Him.