TUESDAY November 10, 2026

Elders, Shepherd the Flock

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock....
1 Peter 5:2-3

In Peter’s second exhortation, he used the picture of a shepherd taking care of the flock. The shepherd has a natural desire to care for his sheep. He watches over them day and night. Think about a shepherd’s duties in the Old Testament times. A shepherd was to defend his flock and lead them to water and places of rest. He knew each sheep and the condition of his flock. He secured the best pastures for his flock so that they could eat. When a sheep or lamb went missing or got lost, the shepherd searched for it and brought it back to the fold.

That is the heart of a true shepherd––one who sincerely and genuinely cares for the flock of God. An elder is to have that same kind of heart–– serving the people and taking care of their needs. A godly elder should have an eagerness to care for the people. You see, Peter exhorted the leaders on what the Lord expected from them. This service to the body of Christ was to be done willingly, without having to be coaxed. The position really required them to have the heart of a shepherd. Ministry is never done for financial gain. Also, there are some pastors or elders who look at their position as a vocation––just a job to get a paycheck.  Ministry has to be viewed as a call of God.

When David was a shepherd boy, he wrote Psalm 23. He saw the Lord as his Shepherd. Observe in his writing, how the Lord lovingly cared for David as a Shepherd: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:1-3).

Are you a leader or elder in the church? What have you learned from Peter’s exhortation? In whatever capacity you serve in the church, does your life possess the qualities of a true shepherd?

The welfare of sheep depends solely upon the care they get from their shepherd. Therefore, the better the shepherd, the healthier the sheep.
~Kay Arthur~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!