The other day some folks from my church were doing a nursing home service at the local nursing home. As a part of this, I had the privilege of giving the devotional. In the devotional I talked about being a sheep in the flock of our Savior. I spoke most about the nature of our Shepherd and talked about the quality of the shepherd determining the quality of life for the sheep. After giving the devotional I had the privilege of talking with a man who said that he had actually been a shepherd and wanted to give me some additional insight.
As I listened what he said was profound. He told me that of all the animals on a typical farm, there is only one animal that cannot really be herded well. You can herd cattle, you can herd horses, you can even herd chickens (though why you would want to is beyond me). But he said that you cannot herd sheep well. He told me that the only way to get sheep to go where you want them to go easily is to lead them. Sheep have to be led.
As I reflected on this (I took the man's word for the truthfulness of it) I thought of how fitting. We as people do not get herded well. We want to go off and do our own thing and we do not really want to follow the rules that God sets for us because until we are believers He is not our Shepherd.
I also thought that describes how important the choice of who you are going to follow is and why no body can follow two masters - because they do not go in the exact same direction. We need to follow our Good Shepherd.
I am a sheep. I am thankful that my Shepherd is the Good Shepherd.
