Grab your 1 Peter 5 reading guide here! We are in the last week of study. It has been amazing to walk through this book of the Bible with you! I am looking forward to studying more!

 Follow and Learn

The world we live in has given people an abundance of platforms to share their opinions on and to lead others with. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have become places of worship. We worship other people and we worship ourselves. Each time we posts something it is stamped on time and on the internet for all to see. If we are not careful, we can begin to rely on what others say on social media as being truth. In many ways, we’ve replaced dependence on Christ with dependence on the thrill of social media. You never know what you are going to see when you scroll through your feed.

One thing we know for sure, that the word of God is consistent and life-giving. In order to lead well through the platforms you have, you must follow well. As disciples of Christ, we must sit at His feet each day, feeding on the Gospel, drinking up truth and resting in the promise of God’s Word. I recently finished Psalm 23 by Philip Keller and learned the incredible effort and love a shepherd puts into caring for His flock. Sheep aren’t the smartest creatures. They don’t know what is best for them and will even walk off of a cliff or eat poisonous plants. They need the Shepherd to guide them, teach them, love them and provide for them. So do we. We are the sheep of God’s pasture and we daily need Him to redirect our steps onto the paths of righteousness. If we don’t realize our need to be led by Jesus as sheep, we will never be able to lead those around us well. One who has truly realized their need for the Gospel and their dependency on Christ is the person who leads without even knowing it. Their life speaks truth and their actions point to hope.

 Feed and Lead

As you feast on the Gospel of grace each day, you will be inclined to lead others to Christ. 1 Peter 5:2 instructs us to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you…” Each person has a flock beneath them. Just as we are a part of the flock of God, we must wisely, carefully and with love shepherd those among us. It may be your family and your children, your small group at church, your co-workers or your friends. No matter what, each person has a flock among them that they must lead well to the Gospel. Leading is not telling, pointing or demanding. Leading is giving, showing and loving.

As I learned in Keller’s book, the Shepherd is selfless. He lays down his life for the sheep and does everything possible to care for them. The Shepherd is the picture of humility; thinking of himself less and his sheep more. Humility is at the core of shepherding. Leading is a responsibility and a trust from God. You have influence, whether it be through your social media feeds, your work or your home. Lead well by loving God first and living a life that points to Christ. Shepherding is not about us, it is about Jesus.

Follow Christ today, sister. In your following, you will lead others to the Gospel. That is what this life is all about.

following Jesus,

Gretchen