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Someone asked me today, “why do we call God’s people sheep?”.I explained to him. Because sheep are stupid and so are we! (Ha Ha) That didn’t go over real well. Then I simply suggested that we look into the word and view the comparisons that the Lord had made. Sheep without a shepherd; Sheep knowing his name ; lost sheep ; sheep scattering and how the community of that day understood the analogy between sheep and men. The fact that we are nothing more then followers in need of direction.
I was raised in the asphalt jungles of the city where people think more about cats and dogs than they do about sheep. I don’t recall ever seeing a sheep until I was in about the third grade and our teacher took our class to visit a farm. I have been told that today some city zoos have model farm exhibits to help city children get acquainted with the animals they read about in storybooks. What a great idea! (I’m objective I need this kind of teaching.)
But people in Bible times needed no special exhibits to teach them about sheep. If you visit the Holy Land today, you may see flocks of sheep and goats even within the city limits. Although I yet to make it there, I have spoken to many who have. A Professor of mine once mentioned a Jewish boy in Jerusalem who was caring for some sheep right in a city park! On another occasion his tour bus had to stop while a couple of shepherd boys led their flock across the highway. I wondered to myself what would happen if those shepherd boys tried to lead that flock across a busy street in Phoenix? I imagine it would probably result in a surplus of mutton and lamb chops in the city markets.
“I think we’ve got to stop using the image of sheep when we talk about Christians,” a preacher friend once said to me. “The sophistication of today’s population may not know what we’re talking about!”
But I think my friend is wrong. A person doesn’t have to be a farmer to know what sheep are like or what they symbolize. The Apostle Paul used the image of the flock when he addressed the church leaders from the great city of Ephesus (Acts 20:28-29).
28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Paul was addressing the elders who were working in sophisticated urban cities, yet Paul reminded them that they were ministering to God’s sheep. My own conviction is that we need to emphasize this image, not abandon it; because if we really understand what it means to be a sheep in God’s flock, we will better be able to relate to each other, to our church leaders, and to our Lord.
We may not be pretty, but we are chosen!
P. Dean
Proud to be shepherding these sheep.
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