So in the girl's Bible study that I co-lead, my friend did a lesson about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. She shared a radio broadcast called "Super Sheep". The lesson and the broadcast have really spoken to me the past couple of days, and I really feel you, God, speaking into my life through the lesson and using the lesson in a tough situation that I am going through at the moment. So last night, I wasn't falling asleep very easily and I felt you, Lord, really prompting me to write about this and to share to it with other people. Here is some of what you have taught me in the past couple of days:
Do people realize that they are only sheep? What does that even mean? First of all, what kind of an animal is a sheep? Is it super smart, or super dumb? SUPER DUMB!!! One falls off a cliff and dies. The other sheep follow it and die along with it. Are people like that? Sheep fall over on their backs and cannot get up on their own. They need their shepherd to come and turn them back over to their feet. Are we like that? Sheep wander off easily, get lost, and become completely vulnerable to predators and cliffs without their shepherd to protect them. Are we like that? Sheep are easy prey to ferocious animals that seek to devour them. The big fluffy poof balls are no match for the sharp teeth and strong jaws of lions and other predators. The only way the sheep have a chance of surviving is if their shepherd comes to rescue them. Are we like that? I don't know about everyone else, but I see many similarities between us and sheep. We often follow and imitate other people even if the path they are walking on is destructive. We often fail and fall and cannot get back up without some sort of help or aid. We are often lost and not sure what move to make next in life. We feel we are being attacked by ferocious animals (people, emotions, sin, etc.), seeking to control, destroy, and devour us. But guess what?!? Just as sheep have a good, protective shepherd, we are lucky enough to have a Shepherd too! His name is Jesus! Jesus loves us SO much and has deemed us valuable enough to give up his life to protect us, HIS sheep. With Jesus, we are undefeatable, just as a sheep is undefeatable to the ferocious animals when his shepherd is beside him. We no longer are dumb, stupid, defeatable sheep. With Jesus, we become SUPER SHEEP! The thing is that there is no way to be a super sheep with our own strength. We have to remember that when we rely on our own strength, we are dumb, fall off cliffs, and get stuck on our backs. Let us stop relying on our own strength and let us ask our Good Shepherd to help us in life. Let's rely on Jesus. Let's become SUPER SHEEP!!!! :)
This week I have been feeling attacked by ferocious animals and it has left me helpless. But God, you reminded me that I am only a sheep! I am not as powerful as I think I am. I am just a dumb sheep! But with you God, with asking you for help and asking you for strength, I am a SUPER SHEEP! I am no longer vunerable, I am undefeatable!!!!
Thank you, God for this great reminder and for you unconditional love for me despite my mistakes!
With love,
Your Secret Admirer
1 Peter 2:25
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
