This coming Sunday is known in many churches as "Good Shepherd Sunday.  The 23rd Psalm is read along with John chapter 10 where Jesus talks about sheep and shepherds.  The second lesson is Revelation 7:9-17 which is about John seeing the great multitude robed in white – robes made white in the blood of the Lamb.  And verse 17 of Revelation 7 says, "for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

So those were the texts we talked about at text study today along with Acts 9:36-43 — the first lesson where Peter raises Dorcas from the dead.  After we read the texts one of my colleagues talked about his ponderings of this whole sheep/shepherd imagery early in his ministry.  He said at first he did not like being called a sheep since they are some of the dumbest animals on earth.  Then someone told him that it is not about us being dumb, but rather the importance of us needing a leader (someone to guide us).  He said that made a lot of sense to him.  Then I chimed in and said, "So if sheep are some of the dumbest animals on the planet and they follow their shepherd’s voice everyday, then what does that say about us who do not always follow our Shepherd — Jesus Christ?  We have a lot to learn from sheep."

I mean think about it — sheep do not wake up some mornings and make a conscience decision to not follow their shepherd.  They know that their shepherd cares for them, protects them and feeds them.  They trust their shepherd and follow their voice.  But then here WE are — the smartest mammals on the planet and we can’t even manage to follow and obey.  Many people know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and yet we often do not trust or listen to Him.  We have our moments when Jesus is the best thing since sliced bread and then moments when we try to create our own destiny — and of course that never works.  So maybe sheep are NOT the dumbest animals on the planet.

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want…"  The Psalmist in Psalm 23 knows who to follow.  With Jesus Christ as our Shepherd, we shall never be in "want" – for Jesus provides for our souls.  So let’s take a page out of the How to be a sheep manual and follow our shepherd’s voice where ever He may lead.  We may not always understand why God does what God does, but God’s ways and wisdom are far above our own. 

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want…"  Thank you Lord Jesus for leading, guiding, caring for us and giving us life.  But most importantly, thank you for coming after us when we stray.  Thank you for forgiveness and thank you for your love.  Praise be to God our Father and our Shepherd Jesus Christ — Amen! -edh-