A couple of weeks we talked about guarding against being lukewarm, and being prepared to be a vessel of God to minister in His Kingdom. (Summer Time is Over)  Then last week we discussed getting out of our Comfort Zones and trusting God to grow us up to be who He wants us to be.  This week I want to talk about “feeding our flock” – or in other words – helping those around us.  This could mean praying with them to receive Jesus as Savior, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, or healing for their body, wisdom for a decision, for favor in a situation that needs to be settled.  It might also mean giving them food to eat, clothes to wear, or even some financial help to pay bills,  or simply having coffee with them and having a good talk.   Let’s face it, most of us need someone to talk to from time to time or encouragement and compassion.

We learn from 1 Peter 5:2-3 that we are to, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock”.

The flock could either represent a person or persons under the care or supervision of another.  To shepherd or overseer means to lead or guide; to watch and tend to and direct. This verse tells us that we are not to serve with an attitude of compulsion or lordship but willingly help and serve others as unto the Lord.  We need to constantly be aware of our influence on others.  Never looking down on anyone or thinking more highly of ourselves, but to see them as valuable as God sees them.

Our influence and witness is not just when we are giving our testimony on a once-in-a-while-basis, but a life style of living faithfully unto God according to His Word.  It is to be seen at all times.  We may not know that the smile and kindness we give to another – a cashier, or waitress/waiter – is just what they needed at that very moment.  Our desire should be to continually allow the love of God to flow through us to others.

The question is not the number of sheep God has entrusted to us but the quality of the nourishment we are willing to give in our serving one another.   Are we willing to spend time in the Word in order to be prepared when called upon to minister to someone?  Do we spend time in prayer so we are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to reach out to others?  These are questions we need to answer.

Psalm 37:3 tells us to, trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  To me this means that we can trust God to help us do good; wherever we are, when we feed on His faithfulness.  The only way to feed on His faithfulness is to read His Word, and the result will be that our words are filled with life and will feed many (Proverbs 10:11 and 21).

So go ahead eat all you want of the Word of God, feed yourself full, then ask God who He would have you reach out to and “feed” with His Word, to bring healing to their body, peace and wisdom to their mind and Salvation to their soul.

Colossians 3:16 – Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Have a great week.