Corona Devo 2045

I wish I could blame it on something else: a "wicked" spirit, or the devil with his claws in me, but nope, it was just me...in a bad mood.  A bad place.  A grudge.  

I was in a grudge: not happy with anything or anyone around me, and feeling like everyone owed me.  I wasn't feeling like doing anything, and I certainly wasn't feeling like caring willingly for any one in my flock.  

And my (poor) family knew it.  You can't hide self-focus and pride, especially to those that have been entrusted to you.  They see the ugly, and they feel it.  And even without consenting to it, grudges infringe and imprint on our flock because that is how behavior and attitudes (good and bad) work: we affect others.  Will it be to God's glory or to our shame?

And like a child who needs disciplined out of a tantrum, my Heavenly Father met me in my grudge with love and firmness as I sat with Him and His Word.  

Grrrr.  

I read the words, but I wasn't receiving them yet.  

I had been chewing on the verses since dawn, and finally, around 8:30 PM, God's beautiful love and truth broke through my hard shell and penetrated my heart...and my peace.  

Willingly. Will we serve God and watch over the flock He has entrusted to us willingly today?  
Or will we serve ourselves and watch over the flock He has entrusted to us grudgingly today?

Regardless of our age (or theirs), if we have influence over people...then we are their elder.  And Peter has strong words of responsibility for us as elders.

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. 

As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: (2) Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 

(3) Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. (4) And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.  ~I Peter 5:1-4

We may not be elders in the churches, but these rules of character and attitude are for us!  Because (again)--if we have influence over people...then we are their elder, and every one of us has a flock of some sort.  The question is, are we watching over it willingly or grudgingly?

I'm ashamed of my answer earlier today: Grudgingly. 

Grudgingly doing chores or laundry or meals.  Grudgingly viewing myself and my importance over others.  Grudgingly lording it over the people assigned to my care.  

Grudgingly grudging my flock.  

And my flock is not just my family, our "flock" is every possible member of our flock: including those who are far off and could still come home to be in the flock.  Those who still need to meet Jesus, and to be in His flock.  (Here's a tip, they will never join a flock with a grudging elder, but they might possibly, with the grace of God, join a flock with a willing elder.)

I was grudgingly taping student Christian-club invite stickers to little packs of orange OREOs that kids in our Christian public school group will hand out at school later this week (to kids not in the group yet).  And as I saw the OREOS multiplying, and the invitations (to come hear the Good News) stacking up in front of me: it hit me.  

My grudgingly (finally) turned into willingly.  

God, through His Word, and in His patience with me, and in His firmness with me, finally hit home, and God flipped-the-switch to show me why ..."willingly" and not..."grudgingly" in my heart.

As I slapped a sticker on another OREO, I realized--what ELSE (than preparing an invitation to bring others closer to Christ) would I (ever) RATHER be doing?  

Cooking?  No.  

Sleeping?  No.  

Shopping, hiking, gaming, fishing, knitting....anything else?  No.  

And, God shook me awake with this beautiful truth and privilege.  

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly...  ~I Peter 5:2

What a privilege we have in shepherding others: inside and outside of our circles.  And everything...everything should point our flock back to Christ, including us.  

This is the role,...no, this is the privilege of an elder.  

~~~

And now, a word to you who are elders...

As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: (2) Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 

(3) Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 

(4) And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.  ~I Peter 5:1-4


Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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