After I got married and left home, my parents and siblings decided to turn their home and backyard into a farm. Well, I say after I got married. They did have that one escape chicken that got loose moments before my wedding ceremony on their porch! But that is a story for another day.
However, in the years since, their menagerie has continually grown. They now have more than 60 chickens, 2 horses, 5 dogs, 3 cats, and their latest addition – sheep.
I’ll have to be honest: I rolled my eyes when they told me that they were getting sheep. What exactly were they going to do with them? I can’t imagine how hot those fluffy creatures must get in the heat of a Mississippi summer.
But one day, on a visit home, we were all sitting inside enjoying each other’s company when we heard their Great Pyrenees violently barking. Looking out the window, we noticed that one of the sheep had gotten his head stuck in a feed bucket and was running around the yard trying to shake it off. And the guard dog was doing his due diligence to get help for his pitiful situation!
As we all doubled over and laughed in the background, my dad raced to help the sheep. After successfully removing the unwanted hat, Mr. Sheep continued on to other adventures.
Yet, during that episode, we all laughed at him with that bucket on his head. He couldn’t even see where he was going; but he kept running in the barn walls, and that dog kept barking at him all the while. He needed the help of his shepherd.
So do we.
I hate to break it to you, but without our heavenly Shepherd’s guidance and loving hand, we are just like that blinded sheep. As we run in circles, He is able to save us from our distress.
One biblical character who understood this situation was David.
As a young boy, he was the shepherd of His father’s flock. No matter what came toward his flock, whether lions or bears, he protected them and went out to rescue the lambs (1 Samuel 17:34). He knew how his herd needed to be cared for … and how much work it was to continually protect such an animal.
In Psalm 23:1-4, perhaps one of the most famous Psalms of all time, that same little shepherd boy used his experience in the field to showcase the most important Shepherd:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Just as he cares for the sheep of the field, He cares for those who love and follow Him.
He cares about our rest.
He cares about our protection.
He cares that our soul is restored.
If we only listen to His voice, He will guide us and save us from our sin-sickened souls.
In Matthew, we see another example of Jesus wanting to be the Shepherd for those who listen to Him:
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36, ESV).
Rather than laughing at the lost, Jesus offered compassion and grace. He knew that they needed saving but lacked the ultimate relationship with the Shepherd.
Thankfully, you and I are offered the gift of salvation by our Lord; we only need to accept it!
Today, if you aren’t listening to or following the voice of the true Shepherd, I pray that you will turn your ears to Him and receive the free gift He wants to give you.
Take off your blinders today, and trust that He will lead the way!
