Find Your Flock

I am working on memorizing some verses.  I found them when reading my bible a few months ago, highlighted them, and just chanced onto them last night in one of my – ‘please give me an inspirational moment ‘ moments.  The verses are from 1 Peter, chapter 5, verses 2 and 3.  Verse 2 says

“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.”

I am a mother of four (two of my own and two step-daughters) and a teacher.  This verse has a special meaning to me.  God has entrusted me with a flock.  He expects me to car for it.  I love my step-daughters greatly, but you know what I mean when I say it is not ‘a walk in the park’.  My boys are now 11 and 14; my girls are now 12 and 15.  The younger girl moved in with us in first grade and the older when she was in seventh grade (she had come for a semester of school when the younger did, but went back to her mom at Christmas, then returned 3 years later when we moved into a different school district and onto a farm).  When my husband and I met the kids were 3, 4, 6, and 6.  We were married and just had the boys for about three years, then we added the youngest girl for about 3 years, then we added on the oldest girl about 3 years ago.  Our oldest has said that when she didn’t live with us she did not ‘get God’; she thought of church on her weekends with us as boring torture.  She is now very involved and does her best to live as Christ wants and loves him.  When having this conversation – I came to recognize my ‘flock’.  I thought of the passage (the multiple passages) that talks about being trustworthy with some and being given more.  I realized that God must look favorably on how I raised the boys and gave me a little more, and a little more…  There are many times when I must admit – I have looked upon the responsibility grudgingly.  There are times that I have wondered what on earth got into me to let this happen.  Then I realize that it was nothing –on earth; it was God, in heaven. 

This verse screams to me.  God has given me a flock, a flock to raise FOR Him, and IN Him.  And I should raise my flock “willingly and not grudgingly”.  A house of teens is not easy for anyone – steps or no steps, but they are a flock.  I also have students and peers at school.  It is a public school so I cannot be very direct.  But I can still ‘watch over them willingly’.

God repeatedly places us in the midst of a ‘flock’.  He puts us where He wants and needs us to be.  What is your flock?  A pastor’s flock is obvious, some are more obscure.  Who are you around all day?  Your family is definitely a flock.  You may think ‘well, I made this decision without God, I got myself into this mess, it wasn’t God who put me here’ – hahahhahahahahhahaha!  God is in everything, and He has a beautiful habit of making Satan’s work turn into His own work!  Recognize where you are, recognize your work, and recognize your flock!

SO, I hear many ‘fine – what can I do about it?’  Well, then we must refer to 1 Peter 5 again, this time looking at verse 3.  Verse 3 says

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

Be a light.  Set an example.  Shower those around you with the love the Jesus showers over everyone.  Look at the love He showered in His time on earth.  Reflect that love to others.  Care for your flock.