ACTS 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood.
This is no small task we are being called to here. To run with the analogy of the flock, a shepherd has a risky job. David, as a shepherd, fought of lions and bears to keep his sheep safe. Note though, that it was those beasts that give him the confidence and the training to defeat the Philistines. Note also that David recognizes that it was God who equipped him to do so.
1 Samuel 17: 34 And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father’s sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it. 36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you!
Acts 20:28 says much the same thing. We are called to be like David - overseers of our Father's sheep, equipped by the Holy Spirit. In line with the animal analogy, 1 Peter 5:8 instructs: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." We must be like David, empowered by God to defeat the lions before they attack, or rescue the sheep out of the lions jaw.
David did such a good job as a watchman that he was anointed by God to be High Watchman - King - over his entire people. This should not cause arrogance, for the watchman are also BEING watched by others; a major role in being a caretaker is being a positive example: "Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3). The Bible even instructs us to pay attention to what our leaders to: "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7) We must make sure we HAVE faith - and imitate Christ - if others are to imitate us! Indeed, we are called to not let others trip up!
“For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.” (Romans 14:15-16)
Finally, notice how in Act 20:28 says we are to FEED the flock. This could mean literal food - feeding the hungry, as we are called to do. But moreover, it is to feed others with the Word of God, with the fruits of the Spirit, with righteousness. As Christ says:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6)
So little Shepherd, so big King - Keep away the lions, model Christ, and feed the hungry - both bread and the Bread of Life. God paid a massive price for his flock; he will equip you in massive ways to care for them.
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