1st Peter 5:2. “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.” A READY MIND. It is there in each one of us ready to be used – waiting impatiently As a child basically responding only to sight and sound – latent potentiality Gradually absorbing what is needed to live and grow – feeding constantly Unfolding as a flower to the sun to receive information – growing continually Absorbing as a sponge the good and the bad – learning indiscriminately Now seriously needing wise guidance from those older – teaching patiently Easy prey for everything that comes along unless overseen – guide administratively Needing now to hear those truths that we live by – unfolding carefully Learning that wrong often follows hard behind right – warned faithfully The things learned and understood now claimed – practiced consistently And the results of guarding the ready mind is faith – growing exceedingly A mind fed and nurtured by those who know God – guarded lovingly Now has learned the value of others coming to faith – cares anxiously And shows interest in their spiritual well-being – thinking spiritually Seeing beyond material gain and self-glory – speaking compassionately In turn having learned from those older, gets involved – counseling wisely Now themselves making the will of God become real – defining clearly
Showing by life-style and words taught – the way of God more perfectly Going over the basics and impact of doctrine – communicating repeatedly So the new and growing ones will do the same – living justly And will see the value of living for Christ – loving fervently As the cycle of generations of faith continues it depends – on those willingly Feeding and leading the flock of God – with a loving mind readily.
“The cycle of generations catches up to me now, Father. I am considered now as one of the older generation. By Thy Spirit and guidance – help me to faithfully discharge the responsibility to the younger generations, those things that are right that I was taught by others. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”