November 28
The Call of Leadership
1 Peter 5:1-2

  1. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
  2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
  1. I warn and counsel the elders among you—the pastors and spiritual guides of the church—as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded):
  2. Tend—nurture, guard, guide and fold—the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office] but eagerly and cheerfully. The Amplified Bible

Peter is exhorting the Elders, the Pastors and Spiritual Leaders of the church, to ‘feed the flock of God.'  The flock over which the Pastors and Leaders of a church have responsibility for is God’s flock.  The church is God’s flock but He has delegated the oversight of that flock to the Pastor(s) and Spiritual Leaders within the church.

He tells them to feed the flock and take the oversight, to tend, nurture, guard and guide, not by constraint (or force), but willingly.  And He says not to do it just for the money or the advantages that go along with the office, but with eagerness.  (Of course the laborer is worthy of his hire so it is scriptural to receive a fair wage for the position.)

The point here is that a Pastor or Leader in a church is called to that position by God and must not fill that position for the wrong reasons.  He’s not to do it because he feels obligated to do so or is forced or manipulated into it, or is doing it just as a job to make money or for some other type of profit or prestige.  The motive must be because of a calling from God and a readiness and eagerness to fill the position.

 

Confession:

I recognize those in leadership within the church are called by God to that position and are filling the position because of God’s call and their willingness to do so.

Pastors/Leaders:

I will eagerly fill my position of leadership according to the will of God as I am called by Him and not out of a sense of obligation or force and not for any ungodly motivation of financial or other gain.

Obedience is a tree of life!