Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. We are led to understand
that those who are given the office of ruling in the New Testament
Church must do so with a completely different mindset than those
who were declaring the law written in tables of stone. For as much
as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered
by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart,
But we all with open face beholding as in a glass, that is a mirror,
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. The scriptures tell
us of one who has come not only as the sin bearer and redeemer
of his people, but as their example in all things. For even here
unto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps. Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who when
he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
He alone is the shepherd of his flock. He does not turn it over
to others, but rather directs the keeping of his sheep to those
who are not instructed to be the lords over his heritage,
but rather examples to them in both word and deed. He directed
his apostles in this work and most famously committed such
into the hands of Peter, saying, Feed my sheep. When we look at
the word which is translated as shepherd in 1 Peter 2.25,
we discover that it is only translated once in the King James Version
as pastors, and even then it is plural. Yet there is almost
a cottage industry of men who claim to be the pastor of their
church and who generally relish the thought of being addressed
by some title befitting their supposed status. Such a consideration
is built out of a tradition rather than the Holy Scriptures. May
we return to him who is the shepherd of our souls. He is the shepherd
of his sheep and the door by whom they go in and out, finding
pasture as he sees fit to give them. But he that entereth in
by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Both the foal and
the sheep belong to him. He is the good shepherd. I am
the good shepherd. Good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep. No sacrifice was too great, for he determined
to lay down his life in order to preserve that of his flock.
He contrasts the good shepherd with those who are but hirelings,
or those appointed to lead the flock while he is away. To a
man they will fail the flock, apart from their preservation
by the good shepherd. Paul wept bitter tears in reminding
the Ephesian elders of this fact. The church is His flock, which
He has purchased with His own blood. He knows them that are
His. He is the Great Shepherd, now
the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord
Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant. Those priests which ministered
under the old covenant could not continue their ministry by
reason of death. Yet this One who is the Great
Shepherd ever liveth to make intercession for His sheep, having
triumphed over death and led captivity captive. His presence
at the right hand of the Father demonstrates His eternal advocacy
in their behalf. For Christ is not entered into
holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true,
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God
for us. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high
priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood
of others. For then must he often have suffered
since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the
world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself. He is the Chief Shepherd, and
when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown
of glory that fadeth not away. Christ told His disciples that
if He went away, that He would come again to receive them unto
Himself. Upon this testimony hangs all
of our hope for the future. Until then, Peter exhorts those
under shepherds not to do so for earthly gain, but rather
to be examples unto the flock which Christ has both purchased
and will come again to be reunited in body and soul with them. He
is the bishop, that is, overseer of their souls. Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he
trusteth in thee. While Diotrephes seeks such titles,
Christ is the minister of righteousness to the sons of God, and he will
lose none of those for whom he has come to call. Have you heard
the shepherd's voice? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.