Have you ever seen just one stray sheep? Usually all the other sheep follow the leader, no matter where it is heading. I once saw something unusual at the sheep farm near our house.
Two shepherds were following a single sheep and herding it as it ran alongside the fence. They were trying to return it to the corral with the others. The sheep was looking this way and that, watching for a hole in the fence as a way to escape. It was a most unhappy looking animal, with fear and distrust in its face. No doubt it wanted to get through the fence and away from its rescuers. However, on the other side of that fence was a busy highway where it would certainly have been killed.
I don’t know how it had become separated from the other sheep. But the shepherds had found it and were not going to let it go until it was safe in the corral with the other sheep.
Are you like that wandering sheep? Are you heading in every direction to try to get away from the Good Shepherd who gave His life for you? Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” The Good Shepherd wants to save you, but like that one sheep I saw, you may want to go where only danger is waiting. I could see that those shepherds cared for that one lost sheep, and the Bible tells us how much the Good Shepherd cares for you and me. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Remember, Jesus the Son of God loves you so much that He died for you. He is the greatest Shepherd of all. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd [gives] His life for the sheep” (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)).
ML-04/22/2007