Day 23
1Peter 5: 1 – 4 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
As we think about Peter the apostle, the elder, the bondservant of Christ, one of the witnesses to the life and sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ we should seek to completely understand his exhortation and instructions for those who would carry out the position of elder in the church.
Shepherds of God’s flock (the church) are not to hold the position of elder by compulsion, for dishonest gain, or to lord it over (to rule) God’s people. Elders are to willingly and eagerly serve those entrusted to them, being examples (as Jesus who washed the disciple’s feet). In so doing elders will receive great reward.
Let us be sure that the elders we follow have the Christ like character of Peter!