{"id":4726,"date":"2024-11-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/reading-plan\/november-17\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T08:41:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T13:41:03","slug":"november-17","status":"publish","type":"reading-plan","link":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/reading-plan\/november-17\/","title":{"rendered":"November 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

Insight from 1 Peter 5:<\/span><\/p>\n

The church is not a leaderless institution. Even though its members are filled by the Holy Spirit and gifted by the Holy Spirit, it cannot function without leaders. It is not an organism that simply, like a spinning top, is supposed to make its own way. Nor is it a democracy, always following the desires of the majority. Rather, the New Testament writers assume that there will be elders in the church. These elders are to provide oversight. These elders are representatives of the chief overseer\u2014the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is natural, when talking about elders, to use shepherding language. Like Peter, the Apostle Paul uses shepherding language when he speaks to the elders of the churches in Ephesus: \u201cPay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.\u201d Acts 20:28-31<\/span><\/p>\n

In the same way that a good shepherd protects the sheep, the elders are to protect the \u201cflock of God\u201d from things that would bring them harm. The elders are to deal with enemies that threaten the spiritual well-being of the people.<\/span><\/p>\n

The elders need to remember that the flock belongs to God. The people do not belong to the elders. They are God\u2019s. He expects the elders to lead. Elders are to do this with great eagerness. Elders are to lead by example. Elders are to be alert, watching out for the sheep. And elders are to deal with the \u201cfierce wolves\u201d that want to destroy the flock.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is not easy being an elder. But it is good. And it comes with great reward. Those who fulfill their duties well will, \u201cwhen the chief Shepherd appears\u201d (this is another reference to the Second Coming of Christ) be given \u201cthe unfading crown of glory\u201d. Once again, Peter reminds the saints of the inheritance waiting for them. Here, the inheritance is waiting for the elders who serve well. Again, it is clear that Peter\u2019s eyes are set on a day that is to come. Like a child on Christmas Eve, he can\u2019t wait for the dawn to arrive.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_crdt_document":""},"class_list":["post-4726","reading-plan","type-reading-plan","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-plan\/4726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reading-plan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/reading-plan"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/handstotheplow.org\/am\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}