"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Fatherand I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my lifeonly to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
-John 10: 1-18
How many of us truely understand the dedication of the shepherd? I know I don't. I've seen sheep, I've even pet a lamb at the petting zoo, but I've never met a shepherd. I've never seen him lead his sheep, I've never seen him wrestle a wolf or a bear, I don't understand the why he would lay down his life for his flock. I worked at a bank for a little while after Corban was born. One day, one of the branches got robbed, and so, we had a meeting in which, the supervisors, and the head of the branch talked to us tellers. They made it clear, that if you get robbed, you do not try anything heroic. The money was replaceable, you were not. You just give them the money, and follow proceedure. My best friend Amy, works at a gas station, she too, has been told the same thing. If someone comes in, you give them the money, and follow proceedure. Sound Advice, one of which I totally agree with. That is what we are taught. Our jobs are not worth our lives. Yet, the shepherd is different. The shepherd will die for his sheep, he will fight for his sheep. Why? That's what I cannot understand. We know from the bible David fought off lions and bears as did the shepherds before him. What is it about sheep that makes a true shepherd lay down his life? Yes, it's his livelyhood, but is that what makes him lay down his life? Aren't sheep replaceable just as money is to the teller or the cashier? The only thing I can think of, and I could be wrong, it's just my opinion, is that they are 100% dependant. They are helpless. Sheep are defenseless, they stay where they are, even in danger. They wait on the shepherd, because they trust their shepherd completely, 100%, and if their shepherd happens to run, then they die. If someone, or something depends 100% upon you, could you run?
I look at dogs and cats, and whatever else we have as a pet. We love our pets, but also know, that if in danger, they will run. Our kids, they depend upon us, they need us, yet if in danger, they would run. But what about someone who is 100% dependant upon you, if push came to shove who wouldn't help? Who wouldn't lay down their life? If you knew a newborn baby was trapped in a fire? Wouldn't you run in to save him? Why because he is totally helpless, if you don't he dies. Could it be sheep are the same way to their shepherd?
We know that Jesus is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep.
Aren't we as defenseless as sheep? Can we help ourselves? Can we when faced with the lion or bear (satan, addictions, depression, fear, worry, ect) stand our ground, or are we helpless against the attack? We stand in the midst of danger because like sheep, we can't do anything about it. We like the sheep, HAVE to look towards Jesus, our Shepherd.
What really hits me, is "All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers," How many times have we looked to others when we should of looked to God. Our parents, our friends, our boyfriends, husbands. I've looked at others to fulfill my life. To take away all the troubles, and when they couldn't, I withdrew. I put my hope in them, to carry me through the storms of life, and when when they couldn't, I was angry, I was bitter, I was lost, because they are human. They couldn't be everything I need, do everything I need. And I was dissappointed in them, which was unfair. The only one that can give you and me what we need, what we desire, is God. When we stop putting our hopes and our dreams in them, and start putting them in Him, is when we like the sheep become totally dependant on our Shepherd. And isn't He Faithful?
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
Sorry my post turned into a novel.
- Do you truely look at God as your Shepherd?
- What loads are you carrying that need to be given to God?
If I was truthful with myself, I would say only half the time. Sometimes, I try to do things my own way, and I look to others for help first. I need to break this pattern of thinking, aiming to be independant, and become totally dependant on Him, seeking Him first.