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When I was in seminary
I always got upset at all the sheep images that people used. Often
professors and students alike would refer to a congregation as a
flock. This drove me nuts. "They're not sheep," I would protest,
"they're people. Sheep are dumb, and mindless and most
congregations are not." Still, no one would listen to me and I was
left to stew on my own. I still feel the same way about this image,
I still loathe it, but the more I read the Bible the more I love the
image that Micah and so many others offer us; that of Jesus as the
shepherd. You see, in relation to Jesus, we are sheep and we would
be better of just acknowledging it.
How many of us stumble about in this world, wandering haphazardly
from crisis to crisis, mindlessly consuming that which is around us
and caring little for the dangers that lurk on the fringes of our
lives? In comparison to Christ we are sheep and the truth is that
we need him to be our shepherd. In Christ we can lift our heads and
really see the world in which we are immersed. Through Christ we
can see the dangers of this world and also its truest
opportunities. Through Christ we can understand that there is more
for us in this world than just material pleasures. When we allow
him to be our shepherd we truly can be feed with the strength of the
Lord, as the prophet describes. Through him we can find peace and
security. All these things exist in Jesus Christ. Of course, we
have to be wise enough to know we need them and him. Yep, we are
sheep. |
Prayer: Holy God, thank you for sending Jesus into this
world to be my shepherd. Help me to listen for his voice and to
trust him to lead me to greener pastures. I need his help. I pray
in Jesus' name. Amen.
[Text from file received from Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian
Church]
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