“Be content to be a simple sheep, listening to My voice and following Me. I will lead you into restful green pastures and guide you along paths of righteousness.” Jesus Calling/Ps 23:1-3
I LOVE sheep. They are not really that beautiful, or smart. There is really nothing special about them, but I love them. I’ve always been fascinated by them. My real fascination deepened when I taught a study years ago based on a book about sheep and Psalm 23 to a small group of ladies. At the end of the study, all of the ladies blessed me with gifts of stuffed sheep, bobble head sheep and pictures of sheep. I know it is weird, but I have a small collection of sheep in our home. (Not live ones!)
My love for sheep really grew out of the Scripture that we studied together during that time. I know how familiar Psalm 23 is to many, but I really have a special place in my heart for it. It is a beautiful picture of just how much we are like sheep and just how desperately we need the love, care and guidance of our Great Shepherd. I see myself and all of God’s children as stinky sheep. Sheep are not the smartest animals in God’s Creation. They must have a shepherd guiding them in order to survive. On their own, they would mostly likely never eat or drink and might often find themselves in dangerous situations. If they fall over, they do not even know how to get themselves back up! Sound familiar?
I was once on a youth mission trip and while driving down the road, I spotted a large flock of sheep. I was so excited to see them, that we stopped the whole youth caravan so that I could see them up close and personal. I walked up to the owner’s door and asked if it was okay for me to visit his sheep! To my great joy, their caretaker, George, offered for me to hop right on his tractor and take a ride way out into the pasture to visit his sheep! I was thrilled, and a little nervous. I held on for dear life as the rickety tractor climbed the rocky hills to the top. It took a several minutes or more to find them. He explained that they may not come out because for some reason, they were not fond of women. (Go figure!) However, when we got close, he called out in a very loud voice, “Ewe, Ewe!” I was a bit startled by his loud call. But, immediately, the large flock of sheep came to their beloved shepherd without hesitation! It was magnificent to behold and I was so blessed by the experience. I will never forget it. He invited me to come back one Spring to see his little lambs, but I have never been able to go back so far. Someday maybe!
I am becoming more and more aware of just how much I need my Shepherd. I am a stinky sheep for sure and I need my loving, merciful and wise Shepherd to lead me though this life to “restful green pastures”. The Bible tells me that if I am His sheep, I will listen for and follow His voice. There are always SO many other voices trying to call me away from my Shepherd and into areas of danger and confusion, but more than anything, I desire deeply to hear and obey my Masters voice.
We can learn much from these stinky, not so clever creatures. Though they may not realize just how helpless they are, they are smart enough to listen for their master’s voice, and come running to him when he calls. They are also smart enough to know that he is their protector and provider. I hope I can keep learning to follow my Great Shepherd in the same way. He knows me better than anyone else and knows just what I need. He is our Protector and Provider.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
“Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
Jesus Calling, Young, Sarah – 2004 Thomas Nelson Publisher
The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001 (Jn 10:11). (Jn 10:27–28) (Ps 100:3). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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