The surprising strength of sheep
Why Jesus doesn’t call you dumb and how following His voice will make you a stronger man
Sheep.
If you’re experience is anything like mine, sheep don’t have a very positive image. I’ve always thought of them as dumb animals, who need constant minding and are prone to wandering off. Sheep come up quite a bit in Scripture, and this sort of idea of sheep was always confirmed and integrated. Christ is the Good Shepherd, and we’re the dumb sheep who wander off. He always comes to get us though, which is great, because boy do we need it.
But hold on. This was totally flipped on its head for me by my spiritual director. He read John 10:27 to me, in which Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus doesn’t call sheep stupid. He highlights something else entirely. Then my spiritual director showed me a video in which several people call to a herd of sheep, and are completely ignored. Then the shepherd calls, and within just a few moments, the sheep are running up.
What if I ignored every voice but the Lord’s, like sheep do? What if I responded to the Lord’s voice like sheep do the voice of their shepherd? My life would be transformed. My whole understanding has been reversed, and so many passages of Scripture are like new. Being called a sheep isn’t an insult, it’s an inspiration.
What voices are you listening to today? What is the Lord saying to you today? Make time for silence, to read scripture, and to pray. Listen for the Lord, and be like a sheep and follow him, to life everlasting.
Video link: My Sheep Hear My Voice
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