Peter's Passionate Perspective

When I think back over Peter’s life, I certainly have some vivid impressions. During his time with Christ, he was the impulsive, flashy one of the 12. He jumped out of the boat to walk to Jesus; wanted to make a tabernacle for Christ right there on the spot during the transfiguration; cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest when Jesus was arrested; and denied Christ three times after promising not to.

Peter also was the first to confess to Jesus that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God. There, providence met Peter. That moment of confession was the spot in time in which Jesus inserted Thou art Peter (which means rock) and upon this rock (his confession of Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

My memories of Peter change after Christ’s death. While he was afraid to identify with Christ during Christ’s trial, after he was filled with the Holy Spirit, it says, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) He preached boldly, confronted people boldly, and boldly declared that he ought to obey God rather than men. In the power of God, he raised Tabitha from the dead and was ordained by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was thrown in prison for his faith, but an angel from God released him to continue preaching.

So when Peter writes his inspired words in 1 Peter, he’s not just writing theory. In 1 Peter 5, he addresses other elders, or church leaders. What word does he have for them?

1Pe 5:1-4  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:	He speaks as one of them. He refers back to the mystery of the connection between suffering for Christ and partaking in His glory. There is a glory related to suffering for Christ that we do and will know nothing of until we see Christ. There must be a suffering celebration to come that some people will only watch.
(2)  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.	What is a pastor’s primary purpose? Is it to develop new programs? Get everyone to evangelize? Develop an awesome mission’s program? Take it from Peter. “Feed the flock of God which is among you.” Just feed them, and feed them well, in preaching and counseling. Peter developed that focus from the lips of Jesus who told him three times “feed my sheep” in John 21.
(4)  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.	If a pastor will just focus on that, he will receive a crown of glory. In these last times, the sheep may want Oreos and Doritos, but it’s the pastor’s mission to feed milk, bread and meat—all are types of the word. As the congregation, let’s crave those things.