Shepherd, Guide & Protect, 1 Peter 5:2amp

1 Peter 5:2 AMP

[2] shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm; 

The majority of people miss the point.  Pastors are to shepherd, guide, and protect the flock.  The part that gets left by the wayside the most is the last part: protect. And the part that most don't understand is: shepherd. 

Do not enter the ministry or become a pastor if it feels forced.  Do not exercise any of those three aspects if it feels forced. That's what under compulsion means. If there is a feeling of constraint you should not do it.  To serve others is something that is not forced.  We serve others because we want to.  We serve others because the Lord asks us to. We serve others because that is what a pastor does and he does it voluntarily.  

The part that can do you in:  for shameful gain.  The ministry is not about you! Whatever ministry you are a part of or you are the head of is not about you!  It’s not your ministry in the first place.  It is His.  The ministry or specific body of Christ you are shepherding was given to you by Him.  Bruh, it's on loan, and at the end of your days you have to give an account for it.  Go read the Parable of the Talents.  

Or let’s not forget:  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked, Luke 12:48. 

The definition of shepherd is to guide or direct in a particular direction. That is your job as a pastor.  That is all.  Guide or direct the body of Christ in a particular direction according to God’s will.  That’s it.  Nothing more and nothing less.  Do it with enthusiasm and with a servant's heart.  When you’re too busy serving others you don’t have time to think about yourself.  When the flock sees you serving others, they will serve others.  And when the body of Christ finally concerns itself with serving others then no one can get hurt. Shepherd, guide and protect. 

#devotional #protect #guide #shepherd #bodyofChrist #prodigalpastor