¹ Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. (I ask this as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and as one who shares in the glory that is about to be revealed.) I urge the elders: ² Like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly. ³ Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:1-4, CEB)

As pastors it is such a privilege to love people. It isn’t easy. It isn’t simple. But it is joy.

We need good healthy practices in our churches. We need to do “good business.” But we need to shepherd people. We need to care for them as pastors.

We need to watch over those we are called to care for with a sense of watchfulness. It is loving people so that we help them grow. We keep the enemy at bay. We pray over the church we have been privileged to watch over.

There are the peaks and the valleys. We celebrate the peaks. We weep in the valleys. As shepherds we rely on the strength of the Lord to carry people through those times.

We sit by bedsides as those we love struggle with health issues. We cheer on basketball teams our youth play on. We celebrate job promotions. We celebrate new births like they are our own kids.

Loving the Body wrings the emotions out of us at times, and we go the Shepherd who knows what that is all about.

As pastors, could I invite you to LOVE the Body of Christ? Don’t look to them to further your career. Look to them as ones precious in the sight of God. They are so precious the Lord called you to watch over them.