1 Peter 5:2-3 (KJV) Provisions of Oversight

1 Peter 5:2-3 (KJV)
Feed 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;Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

One of the greatest Christian leaders of all time, Peter, here urges us to be leaders. It is a good work and, if God calls us to it, we may do it with earnestness and fervor. We who are called to leadership are to lead. We are to take the oversight of the ministry and not to shrink from it.

But there are provisions. We are not to be lords. Rather we are to take oversight:

Willingly

Not as if forced and therefore hesitant and sheepishly. God’s people need a leader to step to the front of the work.

ReadilyFrom the heart. With compassion and love. It is contrasted with one who would lead for the paycheck. Barnes writes, “There is all the difference conceivable between one who does a thing because he is paid for it, and one who does it from love…” Do it for love.

As ensamplesIf there is a difference between an example and ensample I do not yet know it. The point is to follow Christ so those you are called to lead know how to follow Christ.

To my readers:
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For this and more than 3800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

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1 Peter 5:2-3 (KJV) Provisions of Oversight

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