John 10:14
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
As I write this I am pondering my life and frankly I am a little embarrassed by the up and down nature of my emotions. One day I can take on the world, yet the next I don’t want to get out of bed. Someone may speak a word of encouragement to me and I'll feel a swell of confidence about who I am, yet I can soon be hit with a crippling sense of insecurity. I believe the rollercoaster nature of my life comes down to my search for identity. I am constantly searching for who I am. Each day I subconsciously compile information about myself… do people seem to like me… do I make them laugh… do they think I’m someone… was I noticed for the job I did at work? I then take all the information, add it up and draw a conclusion. If I don’t like the result I may try and be someone different the next day. No wonder my attitude about myself varies so much from moment to moment! God never meant for me to spend so much of my efforts on this search for self. He very clearly told me who I am and gave me a metaphor to help me remember. He called me a sheep… A sheep!
Could He not have found a better metaphor? How about one I can identify with a little easier! Maybe an eagle soaring proudly through a canyon or say a fierce lion taking down a wildebeest… something… anything… just not a sheep!! Sheep are the dumbest animals on the face of the earth! A Sheep can drown in a mud puddle or plunge to its death because one of its buddies walks off a cliff. A sheep can’t even turn themselves over when they roll on their back (I may have put on some weight, but I am not to that point yet). Is God just insulting me or is there perhaps something else to be drawn from this comparison?
I think God meant the comparison to be a gift that ends our struggle for identity. Think for a moment about the other animals. An eagle draws confidence from the power of its wings or a lion from the strength of it jaw. A sheep however, is completely dependant on its shepherd for its well being. A good shepherd is always preparing the pasture for his flock, if the pasture is no longer just right, he will move them to a better place. Sheep can not protect themselves; therefore, a good shepherd must be on constant alert for predators. Sheep are so prone to wander that the shepherd must always be ready to go after them and bring them back to the safety of his pasture. Healthy and unhealthy sheep are no different from each other; each is equally unable to care for its needs, each has the same tendencies and faults. Healthy sheep are only identified as such because of the meticulous care of their shepherd. The same is true for me. When I can humbly admit that I am just a simple sheep, I can cease trying to find my identity in anything other than my Shepherd. Here I find the freedom to trust in His strength and no longer feel the need to prove my own. I can begin to rest knowing the Shepherd is attentive to my needs. I will find my significance in my Shepherds call to be part His flock. No longer do I need to discover who I am, because I have found my identity… I am a sheep of the good Shepherd!
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
As I write this I am pondering my life and frankly I am a little embarrassed by the up and down nature of my emotions. One day I can take on the world, yet the next I don’t want to get out of bed. Someone may speak a word of encouragement to me and I'll feel a swell of confidence about who I am, yet I can soon be hit with a crippling sense of insecurity. I believe the rollercoaster nature of my life comes down to my search for identity. I am constantly searching for who I am. Each day I subconsciously compile information about myself… do people seem to like me… do I make them laugh… do they think I’m someone… was I noticed for the job I did at work? I then take all the information, add it up and draw a conclusion. If I don’t like the result I may try and be someone different the next day. No wonder my attitude about myself varies so much from moment to moment! God never meant for me to spend so much of my efforts on this search for self. He very clearly told me who I am and gave me a metaphor to help me remember. He called me a sheep… A sheep!
Could He not have found a better metaphor? How about one I can identify with a little easier! Maybe an eagle soaring proudly through a canyon or say a fierce lion taking down a wildebeest… something… anything… just not a sheep!! Sheep are the dumbest animals on the face of the earth! A Sheep can drown in a mud puddle or plunge to its death because one of its buddies walks off a cliff. A sheep can’t even turn themselves over when they roll on their back (I may have put on some weight, but I am not to that point yet). Is God just insulting me or is there perhaps something else to be drawn from this comparison?
I think God meant the comparison to be a gift that ends our struggle for identity. Think for a moment about the other animals. An eagle draws confidence from the power of its wings or a lion from the strength of it jaw. A sheep however, is completely dependant on its shepherd for its well being. A good shepherd is always preparing the pasture for his flock, if the pasture is no longer just right, he will move them to a better place. Sheep can not protect themselves; therefore, a good shepherd must be on constant alert for predators. Sheep are so prone to wander that the shepherd must always be ready to go after them and bring them back to the safety of his pasture. Healthy and unhealthy sheep are no different from each other; each is equally unable to care for its needs, each has the same tendencies and faults. Healthy sheep are only identified as such because of the meticulous care of their shepherd. The same is true for me. When I can humbly admit that I am just a simple sheep, I can cease trying to find my identity in anything other than my Shepherd. Here I find the freedom to trust in His strength and no longer feel the need to prove my own. I can begin to rest knowing the Shepherd is attentive to my needs. I will find my significance in my Shepherds call to be part His flock. No longer do I need to discover who I am, because I have found my identity… I am a sheep of the good Shepherd!
Micah 5:4
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
