The Apostle once told a group of pastors:
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. Acts 20:28
John Stott, in his great commentary on Acts, states…
It should humble us to remember that the church is not ours, but God’s. And, it should inspire us to faithfulness. For sheep are not at all the clean and cuddly creatures they may appear. In fact, they are dirty, subject to unpleasant pests, and regularly need to be dipped in strong chemicals to rid them of lice, ticks and worms. They are also unintelligent, wayward and obstinate.
I hesitate to apply the metaphor too closely and characterize the people of God as dirty, lousy or stupid! But some people are a great trial to their pastors (and vice versa). And their pastors will persevere in caring for them only if they remember how valuable they are in God’s sight. They are the flock of God the Father, purchased by the precious blood of God the Son, and supervised by overseers appointed by God the Holy Spirit. If the three persons of the Trinity are thus committed to the welfare of the people, should we not be also?
Then Stott quotes Richard Baxter’s book, The Reformed Pastor (written in 1656)…
Oh then, let us hear these arguments of Christ, whenever we feel ourselves grow dull and careless:
“Did I die for them, and wilt not thou look after them?
Were they worth my blood and are they not worth thy labour?
Did I come down from heaven to earth, to seek and save that which was lost; and wilt thou not go to the next door or street or village to seek them?
How small is thy labour and condescension as to mine? I debased myself to this, but it is to thy honour to be so employed.
Have I done and suffered so much for their salvation; and was I willing to make thee a co-worker with me, and wilt thou refuse that little that lieth upon thy hands?
Posted by svshaw 
Posted by svshaw 
