BIBLE READING: PROVERBS 27:23-27; JOHN 10:11-17; 1PETER 5:1-4
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His Own Blood.” Acts 20:28(NKJV)
The Lord Jesus Christ has raised us as Authentic Christian believers to become kings and priests, sharing in the Total Administration of God’s Own Universe for all of Eternity, one which even transcends time itself (2Tim. 2:12). Throughout the Holy Scriptures, it is quite evident that a crown is ample proof of one’s qualification to reign with Christ Jesus. There are several crowns referred to in the Bible and one of such is called the Crown of Glory which is also known as the Shepherd’s Crown.
The Shepherd’s Crown is the Reward of the Lord Jesus given by Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ to those individual believers who have been found faithful in the matter of Spiritual Oversight. What this means is that this is His Reward to those Christian believers who faithfully execute the office of a Spiritual elder or pastor specifically as well as those who faithfully watch over a group or groups of believers placed under their care. Simply put, people who qualify are those who manifest the Attributes of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd Himself Who feeds and cares for His Own Sheep (Jn. 21:15-17). This requires cultivating and manifesting a pastoral heart. The way someone may prophesy without being a prophet or win souls without being an evangelist is the same way one can groom and care for others spiritually without being called a pastor. In other words, any genuine disciple of Jesus Christ can qualify for the Shepherd’s Crown as long as they are willing to pay the price of grooming and growing His Flock.
King David was established as the most powerful king over the Nation of Israel, wielding tremendous power and influence yet was willing to lay down his life and the lives of his family members in order to avert a plague which was the result of his unauthorized census of Israel. Ever the shepherd at heart, he appealed to God on behalf of his subjects by asking “But these sheep, what have they done?” (2Sam. 24:17). Only a genuine pastor with a shepherd’s heart would think that way. The Holy Bible admonishes us to diligently know the state of our flocks and attend to our herds for “RICHES are not forever nor does A CROWN endure to all generations” (Prov. 27:24). From the aforementioned verse, we can see two major wrong motives for entering the pastoral office:
(1.) Riches or Wealth: We have a duty to provide Spiritual Oversight because the outcome rather than the income (1Pet. 5:2). The irony here is that the former eventually determines the latter.
(2.) A Crown or Popularity: When we lift up Jesus in the lives of our people, He will draw all men, faithful pastors inclusive, unto Himself (Jn. 12:32). We must avoid getting into ministry for the sake of encomiums or fame and magnify the Lord Jesus in the lives of those we oversee because He will exalt us in their sight. Allow the Lord Jesus and His Passion remain at the Centre of your life as a genuine Christian shepherd (1Cor. 2:2). May we receive at His Appearing a Crown of Glory “that does not fade away” (1Pet. 5:4).
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we exalt You for being our Chief Shepherd and the Bishop of our souls. O Lord, we humbly ask that You instill within us a pastoral heart that we may genuinely care for Your Sheep always in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.