The word ‘Bishop’ can bring up many different thoughts. Some may think of the game of chess, some may think of someone who is a church leader or remember that it is another title for elders in the church. What we sometimes don’t think about is what the word means. A bishop is one who watches over something, an overseer, a superintendent.
So in 1 Peter 2:25 when Peter says, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” What he is saying is that Jesus is the one who is watching over our souls. Are you allowing him to watch over your soul?
The idea of an overseer sometimes brings up bad feelings for some because someone who was supposed to be their overseer at some point abused their position or failed to protect the one under their care. Maybe the overseer hurt the person they were charged with watching over, or maybe they neglected them. Neither of these things is going to happen with Jesus as our overseer.
Sometimes people also may think that this is going to be someone watching over them to catch them in a mistake or to point out all of their flaws and shortcomings, but that is also far from what Jesus is doing as the Bishop of our souls. He is watching over us in a protective way not a harsh and judgmental way to defend our souls from the destructive power of Satan. Just as Satan accused God of building a hedge or wall around Job to protect him, Jesus is protecting us. Remember though that this protection is not a defense against all physical harm or even sickness or death, but against things that would destroy our soul. And if you think about it we need that so much more because we don’t always recognize the things that can destroy our souls. Won’t you let Jesus watch over your soul as your Bishop?
So in 1 Peter 2:25 when Peter says, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” What he is saying is that Jesus is the one who is watching over our souls. Are you allowing him to watch over your soul?
The idea of an overseer sometimes brings up bad feelings for some because someone who was supposed to be their overseer at some point abused their position or failed to protect the one under their care. Maybe the overseer hurt the person they were charged with watching over, or maybe they neglected them. Neither of these things is going to happen with Jesus as our overseer.
Sometimes people also may think that this is going to be someone watching over them to catch them in a mistake or to point out all of their flaws and shortcomings, but that is also far from what Jesus is doing as the Bishop of our souls. He is watching over us in a protective way not a harsh and judgmental way to defend our souls from the destructive power of Satan. Just as Satan accused God of building a hedge or wall around Job to protect him, Jesus is protecting us. Remember though that this protection is not a defense against all physical harm or even sickness or death, but against things that would destroy our soul. And if you think about it we need that so much more because we don’t always recognize the things that can destroy our souls. Won’t you let Jesus watch over your soul as your Bishop?
RSS Feed