Not far from my home remains a sheep farm. It’s a little humorous to drive through a newly built subdivision full of large, beautiful homes and then come across this farm that is tucked within. It almost seems out of place…but it’s still there.
I drive by this farm every day on my way into church; and every day I have about 20 seconds to observe the sheep. They are all of the same breed, and it never ceases to amaze me that their actions are exactly alike as well. When it’s time to come in and be fed, they all do it the same way. When the gate is being opened to the pasture, they all run the same direction and in the same manner.
Lately, though, I’ve noticed one lamb that seems a bit different. It’s younger and smaller than the others, and its appearance and color is different. He’s not like the rest…at least, not yet. When the others are grazing in a certain spot, he runs to a far corner. When the others are walking, he’s running. He simply appears to be doing his own thing every time I drive by.
As I watch him, I can’t help but be reminded about what our Lord Jesus said concerning Himself. “I am the Good Shepherd.” (John 10:11) He is the fulfillment of what the Lord Almighty prophesied through the prophet Ezekiel.
I am sure that when it comes to shepherding, there must be all kinds of challenges. Sheep are not the most brilliant of creatures, and they tend to do things that make absolutely no sense. They wander. They stray. And without boundaries and someone to shepherd them, they would be completely lost.
I am reminded of this every time I see that little lamb that tends to do his own thing. He’s different. He wanders more than the others. And often, it looks like he is the kind of lamb that wants to check everything out and test the waters. He reminds me of so many people in this world today; and he even reminds me of how I can be.
His kind is the kind that doesn’t just need a shepherd to watch and protect. He is the kind that needs a shepherd to rein him in and even search him out when he strays. He’s the kind that can be seen in the prodigal son who ran from the fold of his family. He’s the kind of lamb that tests the waters of new religions or finds himself believing that science can answer all of our questions. He’s the kind that not only believes that the grass is greener on the other side, but wants to experience it. He’s the one that brings us all back to the reality of who we are, and why Jesus came.
In Jesus, we have seen the Good Shepherd. We have been given the knowledge and understanding that it is Him who has searched us out and rescued us. It is Christ who has gone so far to bind us to Himself. And it is Jesus who has gone so far to even rescue us from the most powerful and fiercest of enemies.
There was and is no other shepherd who could rescue us from our own flesh. There is no other shepherd who could rescue us from being entrapped by Satan and his deceitful ways. And there is certainly no other shepherd who could rescue us from death. Only in Jesus do we find the Shepherd that was prophesied about by Ezekiel. He truly is our Good Shepherd.
In the last month, I have had the privilege (and I do consider it a privilege) to meet some of God’s children who have strayed in their own past, or who are continuing to stray. There are many lambs wandering. It is my prayer that the Good Shepherd uses us as His instruments to take part in the opportunity to search out those who are lost. It is my prayer that, as we praise God for searching us out, that we become an active part of searching out others and pointing them to the Good Shepherd Himself.
Our synod has taken on this challenge. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our goal is to reach over 100 million with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ – 100 million who are wandering and lost. Through the guiding and empowering Spirit of the Good Shepherd, our goal is to search and rescue. May He continue to guide and bless us at Beautiful Savior as He has in the past; and may He continue to give us more opportunities to point others to Jesus.
Saved to serve,
Pastor Kurt