This first post is like talking into a microphone on an empty stage in front of empty auditorium seats. The silence is rather awkward, right now, but I'm sure once we discover each other and introduce ourselves, everything will work out just fine.
Let me begin by introducing myself. I am a sheep. No, not literally. My name actually means "Ewe Lamb," but beyond that, I'm all human. I'm not dumb like sheep, but I do follow leaders I feel are trustworthy. I am a follower of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
My history isn't all that unusual. I was the stupid sheep that wandered away from the flock, causing the Shepherd to leave the 99 other sheep in the fold so He could go and find me (Matthew 18: 12-14; Isaiah 53:6). Even after that dramatic rescue, I've still been pretty guileless, like any other sheep, and I've been taken in a few times by smart-talking wolves (i.e. people who pretend to be Christians so they can ruin real Christians after earning their trust). That wasn't pleasant, but God has promised to straighten things out in the end (Isaiah 23: 1-4).
I'm not telling you all of this to be silly. The Bible compares everyone to sheep because, like sheep, we have the urge within us to trust a leader to protect us from harm and introduce us to good things.
Maybe you've been taken in by a few sheep-leaders who turned out to be wolves in sheep's clothing, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't trust God. He's neither wolf nor sheep, and He's looking out for you. Choose your shepherd wisely. Don't let your shepherd be death.
Human beings, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd... Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. (Psalm 49: 12-14 TNIV from Zondervan ).
This blog is about rescuing sheep from false shepherds and wolves, who only want to tear them apart. It's about making them wiser than the average sheep, so they can't be taken in. It's about teaching them to know the Good Shepherd's voice, so that good things can come to them.
I'm just another sheep, but I know a little, and I want to pass that on to you. I'll be posting regular entries about how to live like a sheep among wolves and emerge without a scratch. If you want to add something wonderful to this discussion, please feel free to drop a line. I'd love to hear from you!
5 comments:
Very cool blog! Congrats :)
Well, we may not get out of it without a scratch, but the Lord will make us stronger as He carries us through the trials.
This is a good post Rachel. Quick question - You have quoted Isaiah 23:1-4 in the third paragraph as a verse that God will judge the wolfs at the end. Could you shed some light on why you used this verse here. I am little confused. Thank you.
I went back and read that reference, and honestly I don't know why I chose that one. My only guess is that this is a typo...just haven't figured out what in that vicinity was the intended reference. Sorry about that!
It could be Isaiah 33: 1-4, which reads:
Woe to you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed!
Woe to you, betrayer, you who have not been betrayed!
When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed;
when you stop betraying,
you will be betrayed.
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee; when you rise up, the nations scatter.
Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts; like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it.
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