Editorial: Practicing Pastors

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
The privilege and opportunity to be a shepherd, or pastor, at the present time are unequaled in all the past. There are so many growing up today who know so little what it is to be, or even how to be, a Christian in practice as well as profession. "Feed the flock of God which is among you" (1 Peter 5:22Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2).) is very simple instruction which all of us can understand and should try to follow. To protect, to encourage and to guide in the way of the Lord is very important at this time, when the enemy of our souls works so furiously to deceive and pile derision and reproach upon Christ and the Christian.
After Peter had learned that he could not trust in himself, he was ready and graciously given by the Lord Jesus the responsibility to feed and to shepherd His sheep. We, too, must learn not to trust in ourselves. Of what good is it for us to make promises as to what we will do? It is written, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (Pray. 28:26).
The giving of one law was enough to expose our first parents, and we are no better than they. Another example for our learning, so that we can better teach and care for others, is given in Exodus 19:88And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. (Exodus 19:8). There a covenant with an "if" attached is suggested to Israel, and all the people glibly promised, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." We know how quickly the law was broken and ruin came in.
Do we need to be discouraged and give up? No, there is One we can trust, and we have His Word. In 1 Kings 8:5656Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. (1 Kings 8:56) it is written, "There hath not failed one word of all His good promise." Let us press on in shepherd work, which is so very necessary now.
Shepherding carries with its labor a special reward. Here is what Peter writes about that: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre [money], but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:2-42Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:2‑4)).
Much reward may not come to us here and now, but it certainly will come! We shall be encouraged in pastoral work and see enough to cheer us, and we are pleased when we see our children and brethren grow in grace and in the truth.
Deceit can come from within or without. First, the shepherd must obey the exhortation given to Timothy: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them" (1 Tim. 4:1616Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:16)). James adds this warning: "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Warning of danger from without is given to us in 2 Timothy 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13): "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." Our textbook is the Word of God. Ed.