Leading The Flock
Your job is to
make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The people are destroyed due to a lack of
knowledge (Hosea 4:6); therefore, you must bring the knowledge of the truth to
light (2 Timothy 2:15). Having found a small corner of the kingdom, your
job is to light it up and show your flock the way (Matthew 28:20). To do
this, you must get organized so that you can get them equipped for their journey
(Ephesians 4:12). The kingdom of God is not a “place,” it is within you
(Luke 17:21); it is right standing with God in the experiential knowledge of the
joy of His presence and walking in the tranquility of a relationship established
by faith with Jesus Christ (Romans 14:17). None of us have arrived at the
perfection of the kingdom, but we have all had a glimpse of it and you must pass
that on to the people (Proverbs 29:18). Without vision the people will be
vulnerable. The key is not in arriving, but the journey itself. You
must teach (1 Timothy 3:2b) those God has given to you how to walk each day by
faith (Colossians 2:6). Many perils await you on the journey (Colossians
2:4). You must be prepared (1 Peter 3:15) and it is your duty to prepare
everyone else (Galatians 6:1). Speaking the truth in love (Ephesians
4:15), you need to admonish and exhort God’s people (Titus 1:9). While
they should maintain their respect toward you (1 Timothy 5:17), they may not.
You should not expect any higher honor than was given to Jesus (Matthew 13:57).
Nevertheless, make sure that in holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16) you become a “sign”
pointing the way to the kingdom (Hebrews 3:7-19). They may not go, but it
will not be because you did not show them the way.
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