1 Peter 2:25 NKJV
“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
The transformation of life that Peter experienced was, perhaps, the most radical among the disciples of Jesus. Denying his Teacher three times and taking the lead in going astray by opting to go back fishing upon Christ’s burial (Joh 21), Peter became a truly transformed man that the very lips that denied Christ would be the one to preach the Gospel that brought in 3,000 souls into God’s Kingdom (Act 2)! The Spirit of God gave Peter an unparalleled boldness for Christ and His Word, which was a sharp departure from who he was before. Much of the effect of Peter’s transformation is felt in his use of words in the letters he wrote to other believers.
In our reference text, for example, Peter reminded his audience of believers that “…you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Hallelujah! Talk about speaking from experience? That is exactly what Peter himself had gone through, especially in John 21 when he, against Jesus’ advice on them staying together in one place, decided to leave the company of the disciples to go back fishing. Thankfully, upon His resurrection, the Lord Jesus followed Peter to the shores of the Sea of Tiberius and helped him renew his commitment to follow his Master.
Aware that the Scriptures refer to believers in Christ as sheep (Joh 10:27), Peter’s reference to “sheep going ASTRAY” must definitely sound an alarm in our hearts and occasion regular self-examination regarding “…whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers” (2 Cor 13:5 AMP). Think about this: David once observed that the LORD “leads” him “in the paths of righteousness” (Psa 23:3 NKJV). That reveals an important truth: to avoid going astray, let the LORD take the lead at all times, love righteousness (Heb 1:9), and be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Php 1:11 NKJV). Hallelujah!
Pst. Emmanuel