Tonight's Word 🌱

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

- Psalm 23:1

Ever had a strange craving? Maybe for an exotic fruit, a particular food, or an urge to go the beach? I am not sure if mine would be considered a craving, but it came out of what might seem to be nowhere, and I am starting to think now that maybe it is something the Lord has placed on my heart. I confess that as of lately, I have found myself longing for a pet, more specifically a lamb or a kid. However, my first preference would be a lamb. I am not yet sure how, or if I will even get it but I trust that if it is God's will, one will eventually come to me in the fullness of time. In my moments of reflection however, I try to recall all, if any, knowledge or memories that I have of sheep. My memory goes back to a news article I came across in 2021 where a lost sheep was found, roaming around in Australia. You can view a brief video below on it, courtesy the animal sanctuary and CTV News.

Baa-rack the sheep found roaming in Australia

While looking at the video again, I am seeing some interesting facts about sheep that I believe may have a spiritual lesson. 

1. Sheep tend to get lost.

Sheep seem to have a tendency to wander away, be it to escape danger, inspect things that attract their attention, or to stay close to a sheep they have focused on. Once it goes astray it has no way of finding its own way back, and can easily find themselves in danger or indefinitely lost. This is due to their limited vision range, and the resulting tendency to not walk in a straight line.

Do we get 'lost' too sometimes? Do we get distracted at times and lose focus on the things that matter most? Do we follow or easily become influenced by others and lose our own identity in Christ at times?

2. Sheep need a shepherd to guide, to find, and to protect them.

The shepherd knows the sheep need his guidance, his rescuing, and his observant eye. Their sense of direction and not being able to see much in front of them from afar off, limits their ability to look for and detect where they can find food and suitable pasture. They depend on the shepherd to guide them there, and keep them there as long as necessary so they may be provided and cared for, and if necessary to go searching for them when they are lost so that they can be brought back to the safety of the shepherd's fold. They are also defenseless against predators, and as such, need the alertness and wisdom of the shepherd to look out for their best interests.

Do we always know where to go, how to move, what to choose? Have we sometimes left the safety of God's prescribed way of life, done things our own way, messed up and need Him to come get us? Can you always detect the enemy and his many ways to distract and destroy us? Have we ever found ourselves without, and have had to ask Him to provide for us? Do we recognize our dependence on God who ultimately sees way ahead of us (while we barely see as far as our own nose), who knows the way, and do we trust Him enough to follow Him and allow Him to protect us in ways we cannot protect our ownselves?

3. They need a shepherd to shear/clean them up

Sheep grow wool as long as they live. If a domsticated sheep's wool isn't sheared, it becomes overgrown. They cannot shear their own wool. For this reason, they need the shepherd to do this for them. If it isn't done, the wool can become a burden on their body, becoming heavy, dirty, infected with parasites, and can significantly affect their survival. Thankfully, the shepherd observes and knows this, and knows when and how to care for them.

Have we wandered away from God at times? Do we, in this life, become entangled with habits, people, places, lifestyles, that weigh us down? Do we become stressed or burdened by the cares of this life, and long for relief? Do you find that our weaknesses and struggles often leave us feeling helpless and dependent on God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves? It may be a change in character, unlearning ways ingrained from childhood, or even refusal to change? Does God ultimately go with us through fires that help to mature, purify and cleanse us?

Psalm 23 - David

In the Bible, humanity is compared to sheep. The psalmist David calls God his shepherd, as is evident in the scripture for tonight. Perhaps in his time as a shepherd and being acquainted with the behaviour and nature of sheep, he saw his own self, and even in his role as a shepherd, he came to understad the care, love and duty God extends to His children. 

The prophet Isaiah compares us to sheep. "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus himself referred to us as sheep. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27).

The lesson found in a sheep is one for us to look into more closely. Perhaps this desire for me to have a lamb will eventually lead me to a journey, that would prove to be an answer to a prayer I had last year where I asked God to show me how He sees me, so that I may be better able to relate to Him. Until then, I am thankful for the scriptures from which we can learn of our divine Shepherd. At the beginning of this new year, let us choose to follow God, stay close to Him, and trust Him completely in all that He asks of us.

Prayer

Divine Shepherd, thank you for your love, your guidance, your mercy and providence toward us. We acknowledge that choosing a life with and for you is never a decision that we can regret. Thank you for outlining the path of safety and true joy in your Word. Help us to trust you completely with our own lives. Where we lack faith, reveal yourself to us, so that we may know that we can trust you. We ask you to continue to be our leading, our source of direction, and our providence. We want to stay close to you. As long as we live, we ask you to clean us up, cleanse us from all that is not of you, and wash us clean. Do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, and give us wisdom, joy and satisfaction in You that binds us to you all the days of our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Be blessed by the following song. It has always been, and will continue to be one of my favorite hymns. Be blessed 🎧🙏🏼🙂🐏

Come thou Fount of every Blessing [Sons and Daughters]