Daily Worship

Example for others

Liz Crumlish February 25, 2015 0 0

1 Peter 5:1-7

Tending the Flock of God

​Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for

“God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

Lord you have taught us so much
and now you ask us to be an example for others
Not because we are perfect
But because we recognise our need to learn
You ask us to be examples for others
because we have struggled with your teaching
and have learned, often the hard way,
that your ways lead to life.
You ask us to be examples
because even with all our failings
your grace continues to work in us and through us.
You ask us to be examples for others
because you trust us with the responsibility
of sharing all that you have achieved in us.
God, as we share and as we try to be good examples,
may we continually be surprised
by all that you have taught us
by all that we have learned
and by all that you continue to teach us 
as we serve as examples for others.