As many of you know I go to BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). It is a bible study designed to grow deeper in knowledge and understanding of God and the Bible. It involves a daily lesson plan and reading. About 3 weeks ago, somewhere around studying John chapter 10, where Jesus refers to Himself as the good Shepherd, it slugged me. I realized what kind of shepherd Jesus is. I've read this chapter more than once, yet it never hit me like it did now. Do any of us really get how He takes care of us? I mean REALLY get it? Why did God use the metaphor of sheep and a shepherd to describe His relationship to us? Because it's the only relationship there is to begin to scratch the surface of what all it entails....
1.) The sheep KNOW their shepherd's voice.
Yes, this is real. Sheep would recognize their own shepherd's voice, and respond to it. And no one else's. John 10:8 says, "All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them." TRUE sheep, meaning a child of God, someone who is saved. And the only way for us to tell the difference between the counterfeit shepherd (false pastors, corrupt leaders, etc.) and the true shepherd is to KNOW the truth (the Word) so that we may recognize it when we see it. This is helpful in a time such as this, our country in the shape it is in.
2.) The shepherd leads them, goes ahead of them, and cares for His sheep.
This gives us security. He never pushes us, He LEADS. And CARES for us. Do you know what shepherds had to do for their sheep on a daily basis? They knew each sheep, one by one. As Christ knows us by name. 1 Corinthians 8:3 "But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for." Firstly, they had to constantly free them of flies and parasites. They would circle the pen throughout the day, inspecting each one, cleaning them, checking for any injuries that needed attention, etc. They had to make sure they were well fed. And free of stress. I know right, a sheep? Stressed? If a sheep was distressed in any way, it would not lay down and sleep, and it's health would decline from there. And then obviously, have to check and make sure all were in attendance. If a sheep had wandered, not able to find its way home, (and also leading other sheep astray) do you know what that shepherd would have to do? He would go and search out that one sheep. When he found it, he would have to gently break it's leg, so that he could throw it upon his shoulders and carry it home. Hmm... interesting. You know you've seen that picture before, Jesus carrying a sheep over his shoulders... you think, ah, how sweet, little Fluffy likes being held and cuddled. No, Fluffy was being taught a lesson, if you will, so that he could be brought back home again.
Anyways, what I am getting at is I received such deep insight into what it means... "the Good Shepherd." And after thinking over the last couple of weeks about what has brought on this understanding, I remembered something. For a couple months I have been praying occasionally for something: for God to grow my faith. I think it is a scary prayer to pray. I have to admit I didn't want to at first. Because usually when you think of your faith growing it involves a challenge. Or some kind of trial. And though trials are what grow our faith, that doesn't always have to be the case. I simply prayed for God to change me. Change the ugly things about me. And to fuel my desire to know Him more, to WANT to get into the Word. Not doing it just because I'm in a bible study and need to get my lesson done. And that all starts with a passionate commitment. A passionate commitment to Him. So really, I basically prayed for me to love Him more. To want to get to know Him better and His will for my life. And as silly as it is for me to be surprised, I am. I'm surprised at how much He is on my mind. I'm surprised at how much I want to do for Him, and how much I want Him to be glorified in it. Even as I'm typing this, it sounds strange that this is me saying this. Not that it should, I have always loved the Lord, but, it's different now. Deeper, stronger, and I feel like I'm at the beginning. I don't know what kind of work He is going to do in me, but I'm ready for it, whatever it is. Because now I'm passionately committed.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." JOHN 10:11-18
