[Songs in the Night - November 27]
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28
THE elders everywhere need to take special heed,
because in every trial the most favored and most
prominent have the severest besetments and tests.
Hence the apostle exhorts, "Be not many of you
teachers, brethren, knowing that a man shall receive
the more severe testing."
We, likewise, exhort all the
elders who in heart are pure, unselfish, that they have
nothing but love and good wishes for all mankind, and
that they become more and more filled with the fruits
and graces of the Holy Spirit, taking heed also to the
flock.
Remember that the flock is the Lord's and that
you have a responsibility to the Lord, as well as to
them.
Remember, that you are to watch for their
souls (interests) as those who must give an account
to the great Chief Shepherd.
Remember, that the
principal thing is love, in all; and while not neglecting
doctrines, give special heed to the development of the
Lord's Spirit among the various members of his body,
that thus they may become "meet for the inheritance
of the saints in light," and according to the divine will,
be not suffered to stumble in this evil day, but having
done all to stand complete in Christ, his body, his
members, his joint-sacrificers, his joint-heirs. Z'09-73 R4346:5 (Hymn 183)