ESOCS Devotional 22 November 2024 – Charge to the Elders and the Young Ones
MEMORY VERSE: “The elders which are among you exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.” 1st Peter 5:1
TEXT: 1 PETER 5:1-11
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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Eldership, without a doubt, is a huge blessing in any family and congregation, as it takes special grace to attain such; whereas the young ones are the strength of the system. The strength and workforce of the family and church is strongly affected where the youths are absent.
It is on the basis of this understanding that Apostle Peter balances his charge to the elders and the young ones in the congregation. The growth and stability of the church is strongly hinged on the collective responsibility of the elders and the young ones with each class of persons understanding and functioning within their limits and ascribed boundaries.
Apostle Peter admonishes the elders to feed the flock of God. This implies that Elders are feeders. The young ones are meant to drink and feed from the fountain of their knowledge and wealth of experience in their journey with God. The malnourishment of the present-day church is an indication of the neglect of duties on the part of the elders. The nature and context with which you feed them with is of great concern to God. Apostle Peter charges the Elders never to lord themselves over the flock of Christ but become exemplary of the life of Christ. We must note that when we claim lordship, the flock shifts from you. Never forget that the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ the Lord, will only reward you if your shepherding on earth as an Elder is in line with His principles and patterns.
Apostle Peter also took his charge to the young ones. Never be intoxicated by your strength of today. Youthfulness does not equal uselessness. Every young person is charged to submit to the elders. You don’t negotiate humility on the path way to growth in life. If you must become an elder tomorrow, you must learn submission now. That you are more read, financially stabled or healthier is never a ground to disrespect, disregard or disdain your elders at the family, church or societal front. We must discontinue from this high level of arrogance, and pompous life style exhibited by the younger generation. Embrace the path of humility and respect for all and sundry; its rewards from the Chief Shepherd is unquantifiable.
- Understand your feeding role over the flock as an elder.
- Never lord yourself over the flock of Christ.
- Humility is the spring board for growth for every young person.
- Father, thank you for your word; forgive my days of not living rightly and grant me the grace to live correctly, in Jesus name Amen.
Further Reading: Job 19:1-27; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
ESOCS Devotional 22 November 2024
