And now listen to me. I know that none of you will ever see me again. All the time I was with you, I told you the Good News about God’s kingdom. So today I can tell you one thing that I am sure of: God will not blame me if some of you are not saved. I can say this because I know that I told you everything that God wants you to know. Keep watch over yourselves and all the people God has given you. The Holy Spirit gave you the work of caring for this flock. You must be shepherds to the church of God the people he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:25-28)
This week a man from our Bible study/small group shot himself in the head at the home of his ex-wife. The tragedy affected many. Our group leader, also an elder, stood with her outside her home after the police evacuated her, and he and other church leaders cared for her immediate needs. Our leader didn’t text our small group family the news of this tragedy—he took time to call each of us individually. I’m thankful for an elder who follows God’s word.
Paul was the leader of the Ephesian church but he couldn’t be anymore. The Holy Spirit urged him to go to Jerusalem. If he followed God’s will, the Spirit told him his life would end soon. So he groomed the Ephesian elders to take his place. He told them how to be good leaders. His directions apply not only to elders but to parents, grandparents, and teachers. Much of his instruction applies to any leader or manager.
- Tell your sheep everything God wants them to know so you will be blameless if they aren’t saved.
- Keep watch over yourselves. Pray for and monitor yourself. Jesus said, “If I do not the works of my Father, then don’t believe me.” (John 10:37) Unless you follow God’s will, you have no right to teach or tell others what to do. You must make those whom God has given you feel loved and cared for even when you’re disciplining them.
- Keep watch over the people God has given you. Pray for them. Speak to them in a loving way when they make a mistake.
- Work at caring for your flock. Caring takes time. Help them meet their goals and personal needs. Be approachable. Encourage.
- Be shepherds to the people God bought with His own blood. Guide them. Feed them God’s word. Be patient. Answer their questions.
Don’t be a leader or teacher if you can’t do those things. Followers, especially children, depend on their leaders to provide a safe haven.
Father, I praise You for giving me people to shepherd. Give me power and patience to love and help when they make mistakes. Tell me when I’m not loving or doing your works. Nudge me to encourage and guide with Your word. Help me bring my sheep closer to You. Thank you for my shepherds. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“Work at caring for your flock. Caring takes time.” I like what you wrote. We all need to remember that we need to care for those that we love whether they are family or friends. Caring does take time and in our busy world sometimes we don’t do what is most important. Sometimes things happen in our lives that are so unexpected. I think when something is unexpected it is harder to deal with because we aren’t prepared mentally. Victoria has a very close friend. Her father committed suicide a little over a year ago. She is struggling with her loss and she has so much healing to do. We do need to be encouragers for those that are struggling.
Thanks for your comment. You are so right. I’ve decided I need to do more caring for and less writing about it. In doing that I am hoping that God helps me write faster. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to get everything done and to prioritize. You and others try to prepare mentally for things. My husband is the same way. He worries about things that never happen. You wanted to prepare yourself mentally in case you had cancer again, but you didn’t. Do you think the time and worry spent was worthwhile? Do you think you would not have been as devastated if you had cancer because you worried about it ahead of time? I’m very curious so I hope you’ll answer my questions. I want to understand you and my husband better. I prayed for your healing today. Blessings.
Preparing for something and worrying, in my mind, are 2 different things. I think that we all worry at times about something that has happened or something that may never happen. If I am preparing myself for something, I am trying to make myself stronger, but it doesn’t mean I am worrying. I could be worried about my healing now but I am not. I have given this to God. I will be healed by His power. Healing is possible through Your power alone, Heavenly Father. I think the time I spend in prayer is never a waste of time, even though I might be praying about something that never happens. I think that the time worrying about something is always a waste of time because worry never changes anything. Prayer changes things whether it is a change in your mind or body. I can be a worrier but more and more when I feel the need to worry about something, I ask God to be by my side and take over the problem for me. I was devastated when I found out I had cancer. Was I worried about it…of course I was. Did I pray about it…of course I did. It did make me stronger and I faced cancer head on, just as you did.
Thanks for clarifying. I understand now. Also glad you are giving so many things to God. Love you!