Ever find yourself in a recurring theme for the week with which the Lord is obviously grabbing your attention? Well, for me this week, it is the concept of sheep. I read a quote online this week which caught my attention and got me thinking a bit..."Most people in our society are sheep-- kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. Then there are the wolves, who feed on the sheep without mercy. I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."
I found this interesting. I suppose in a secular sense, this statement completely registers with me. However, there was a deepened sense that something was wrong when I read it, but I knew I needed to chew on it for a bit before drawing any conclusions. The part that registers with me is obvious - protection. As a father, I want to protect my children. As a husband, my wife. As a small group leader, I want to protect those in my group from the wolves out there. I even, at times, want to be the one they look to for that protection. However, with much reflection, I see this is pride on my part. I also relate because I find myself sometimes judging the intentions of sheep and consider them foolish or unwise. Again, pride.
So what am I to do with it all? Well, first off Jesus calls us sheep (John 10) so we shouldn't take offense. Jesus also separates the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 and clearly it is the sheep who enter in. In John 21, Jesus tells Peter to take care of his (Jesus) sheep. So there is a sense of protection there and pastoral care given to Peter by Jesus. But, that seems to me a specific directive given to Peter by Jesus. In the bigger picture and as I examine the whole of scripture, there is instance after instance where "being" a sheep is given much honor. The ultimate example being found in Isaiah 53 describes Jesus as "oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."
In Romans 8:29-30 Paul says we are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus which will bring him glory. What is that likeness look like? Well, Jesus remained silent when he was led to slaughter. He prayed for his enemies. He loved the unlovable. He healed the sick. He comforted the brokenhearted. He corrected sinful behavior in his people with love and gentleness, even when they were "defending" him, i.e. Peter and a little sword. He told us to pray in humility, not like the religious and pious. He set a pattern of being meek, humble, gentle, at peace and living in peace, demonstrating kindness, goodness, patience.
You know sheep can seem quite stupid. We scoff at their behavior, but really it boils down to trust. A sheep knows his shepherd's voice and listens. A sheep does what his shepherd instructs. We watch and call it stupidity, yet the shepherd has good intention. We also look at sheep as weak, incapable of protecting themselves. We look down on this as if we are strong. Consider every possible means of protecting yourself in this world. Every extreme. Now consider this: even with every one of those protective measures, are you safe apart from God's protection?
I want with every ounce of me to be able to say I can protect my family, friends, loved ones. The reality is I can only do what my flesh allows, but ultimately it is God who defends and protects.
I don't have it all figured out that's for sure. What I do know is I think it wise of me to be content being a sheep. To allow Jesus to conform me as a sheep to his image and to follow his example. It is a paradox to be a sheep in today's society. It may cost me friends, relationships with coworkers. It may mean enduring abusive statements and being ridiculed as "liberal" or "weak". It may mean being seen as someone who is incapable of surviving in a tough world, a dog eat dog society. It may cost me money, jobs, positions of leadership. I don't care. I'm gonna strive to be a the best sheep I can be.
My dear friend Josh did a video a few years back on sheep. It's worth watching and can be found HERE.