“Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.” – Acts 20:28 (AMP)

Christ is the Shepherd of the Church and He died for the salvation of every soul and whoever receives this gift by faith becomes His sheep. This is how it is because it was by His own blood that He redeemed a people for Himself and thus, He is the Lord over the Church, which is His Body. However, He has appointed men of different status, out of those who ẹ He has saved, He called them to oversee His flock.

Christ being the Chief Shepherd, every person called, appointed and ordained to serve as an overseer of His people is an under shepherd. This means every overseer of God’s people is a representative of God and he must perform the duty assigned him by God for the growth and edification of His people.

One of the ways the devil has cheated many churches today is that the one who is meant to point the people to God is pointing the people to himself thereby positioning himself to replace God as a result of this. Every under shepherd is supposed to be submitted to the leadership of the Chief Shepherd. The Church begins to go astray the moment the overseers who are to steward God’s people begin to desire to own them. No minister of the Gospel owns the people committed to him. Why? Because none of them were saved by his blood.

Therefore, this is a matter every minister of the Gospel in every capacity, no matter how little, must pay close attention to. You must never live and position yourself as though you own God’s flock that you oversee. You are an under shepherd and every time you remember this you will be humble and show God to them, which is your sole duty.

The sheep must clearly see that you are truly committed to revealing God to them by accurately representing Him. You are not in it for material gain nor for popularity, you are in this to serve and delight the heart of Him who has called and ordained you. Never let what the world projects be your focus. Stay in your calling and do what God has ordained you to do. Keep watch over the flock of God that you oversee for you will give account of each one of them.

Reflections: What motivates the ministry I do – Self or God? Do I still represent God well like the way I started the work of ministry?

Confession: I have been called an ordained to serve the purpose of God and to represent Him accurately, therefore, I am strengthened to do His will and represent Him without any attempt to replace Him.

Related Scripture: John 10

Bible Reading: Genesis 16