THE FLOCK OF GOD | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1860

THE FLOCK OF GOD.

1. It is a purchased flock. PAUL, addressing the elders of Ephesus, says, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."—Acts xx, 28. We are by nature "carnal, sold under sin;" but by grace "we are bought with a price." An article will be considered valuable, according to what it has cost the owner; and that must be a valuable flock which cost the blood of the Shepherd.

2. It is an obedient flock. JESUS says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me—John x, 27. His voice is now heard in the Scriptures of truth, and we follow him when we comply with his requirements. "In keeping his commandments, there is great reward."

3. It is a little flock. The Shepherd said on one occasion, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.—Luke xii, 32. The flock of God in every age has been a little one; and he has nowhere told us that it would become large enough to embrace the world, before the end of this dispensation. The truth of God is found with the few, and not with the many.

4. It is an exposed flock. When Jesus sent forth his disciples to preach the glad tidings of the kingdom of God at hand, he said to them, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves."—Matt. x, 16. And Paul says to the bishops of Ephesus, "I know that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock."—Acts xx, 29. And the exhortation of Peter is, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour." From which we gather that if Satan cannot destroy the flock, he will, at least try to frighten them.

5. It is a scattered flock. The sheep are found scattered everywhere through the "weary land" of this world. Yet, the Shepherd's eye is upon them; he knows where they are. Yea he maketh them to lie down in pastures of tender grass, and leadeth them beside the waters of quietness.—Psalms xxiii, 2. Christians live not by bread alone, "but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God." To them his promises are "exceeding great and precious."

6. It will soon be a gathered flock. "For thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep, that are scattered so will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. And I will set up one Shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their Shepherd. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them, and the places about my hill, a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing."—Eze. xxxiv. "And they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters." Rev. vii. Oh blessed day! "When the chief Shepherd shall appear" to gather his flock into one fold, on the green fields of the regenerated earth.—When earth shall once more bloom beneath the smile of its Creator.—When the saints of every age and clime will stand with the Lamb on the radiant heights of Zion. That indeed will be "the congregation of the righteous," where no sinner will be seen.—Psa. i, 5. O blessed thought! that the day is near which will consummate the hope of the church.—That soon the heavens will be lighted up with the glory of God. That Jesus will appear in threefold glory, to rifle the graves, and change the righteous living. Well may we say with the poet,

"O what a blessed hope is ours, While here on earth we stay, We more than taste the heavenly powers And antedate that day."

Reader, do you belong to the flock of God? Are you resting the whole weight of your salvation on the merits of the Shepherd? Are you a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus? Tried and tempted you may be; exposed to dangers you must be, but never doubt the love of Him who came from glory to wander over the mountains of this world in search of the lost sheep. (See Luke xv, 1-7.) You may complain of weakness; but remember that it is the Shepherd's work to gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and he has promised to do this.—Isa. xl, 11. Do not complain of unworthiness; remember that the song of the redeemed in glory will be, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain," &c. If you feel weary of sin, and earnestly long for more communion with God, it is the Spirit of God who has wrought in you this feeling and desire. Continue to trust in Christ. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." J. M. O.—[Ad. Herald.