January 21

"Tend the flock of God which is among you."—1 Peter 5:2 (R.V.).

WHEN St. Peter said, Tend the flock of God, three arguments at least prompted his injunction.

There was the Memory of Christ. His thoughts were travelling back across all the intervening years to a grey morning beside the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus said to him, Tend My sheep. Yes, I must get the commandment from the Master Himself, His ordination must commission me, His grace must equip me, His Spirit must inspire mine, if I am to be a good keeper of the flock, and if I am to pass on the responsibility and the privilege to others.

There was the Grace of Christ. Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, the apostle writes. It had been his own manner and habit; for the sake of the Name he had gone forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles, nor yet of the poor saints of the circumcision. And surely this free and spontaneous and ungrudging service drew its inspiration from the tender mercy of Him who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. There is my pattern. There is my high and heavenly standard.

And there was the Hope of Christ. When the Chief Shepherd shall be manifested, St. Peter goes on, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. Christ is in front of me, as well as behind me and with me and in me. I shall see His face; I shall hearken to His commendation; I shall enter into His joy. What an incentive it is to diligence and faithfulness! I must guard and guide the sheep, I must feed the little lambs; for I shall meet Him soon to whom they belong.

These are three mighty arguments indeed.