1 Peter 5:2
I'm pastoring in my beloved Stockholm this week and loving every minute of it! The love for the church God has entrusted us to shepherd is increasing in us. Maria and I love SOS Church with all our hearts! I'm coaching and helping faithful church members, having lunch with new saved Christians, holding pre-marriage counseling sessions, as well as enjoying BBQ parties in the Swedish summer evenings... :)
Peter, the disciple says the following about the 'ministry of the pastor' in the scripture above:
1. The leaders in the church are shepherds for the flock of God.
In
other words, God has entrusted us with his own flock of sheep. He asks
us to babysit, watch over and pastor his own church until he returns. We want to do our best of course.1. The leaders in the church are shepherds for the flock of God.
2. The leaders were to work, not because they had to but out of their free will.
In other words, they are to do it with joy because God trusted them with the task to watch over and take care of his own flock. What a trust! What a privilege! Jesus asked us to be his 'stand-in'.
3) The leaders were to work with dedicated hearts without any interest in what they could gain from it.
In other words, the church should not care for the livelihood, food and other expenses of the pastors. The shepherds are to care for the flock and not the other way around. The pastors, leaders receive their reward and salary from the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Himself! With devoted hearts we shepherd Jesus' sheep and show them all the care as much as we have the ability to.. Jesus cares for his shepherds.
Tomorrow I'm preaching in SOS Church at our noon and 4 pm celebrations. I hope to have the joy of seeing you there, to be able to feed you with God's own Word and also give you a warm hug!
