Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Phillips Brooks, a preacher of yesteryear, once said, “Preaching is truth through personality.” I do not know much about Mr. Brooks, but I do know that he was not a man of dynamic personality. He was stating that no matter what your personality, your preaching is God’s truth through your personality. God gave the truth, God gave the personality, and what you do with both is vitally important.
In Acts 20:28, Paul reminds us to take heed to ourselves and to the flock of God. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock . . . which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The truth that the “flock” is God’s flock which He “purchased with his own blood” should be both humbling and comforting. The flock to which you minister, whether great or small, is not your flock; it is God’s flock!
Your relationship to God’s flock is one of stewardship. In speaking of God’s flock, verse 28 says, “Over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. . . .” God owns it; we oversee it! That is sobering when you take a moment to consider the implications. The ministry that you have in feeding the flock of God is not your own. God has made you steward over it!
God has given the truth, God has given personality, and we are to take heed to both. I Timothy 4:16 says, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” You are to take heed to your life and to the doctrine God has given because both are a part of the stewardship God has entrusted you with.
Taking heed to yourself really boils down to your character. Feeding God’s flock as a steward speaks of your character, not playing one. Character is what you are when no one is watching; playing a character is what you are crafting when everyone is watching. There is an enormous difference between having character and playing one! In your ministry-whatever it may be-are you feeding God’s flock? Is your life centered on character and not merely playing one in front of people? Paul’s reminder to the church leaders in Acts 20 is a helpful reminder to us today:
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Prayer Requests:
1. Services tonight in Santa Maria, CA and Clio, MI
2. West Branch on the Move Deaf Rally this weekend in Phoenix, AZ (10.2)