Straying Like Sheep

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Straying Like Sheep

We all want what one might call “the better things in life”  —  the blessings that can make life pleasant.      It’s rather unlikely that we would refuse to accept something  that looks good  when it’s readily available,  right in front of us.      It’s the same with sheep.      As they wander around grazing  for their daily intake of grasses,  they spot better looking grasses  and naturally head right on over to them.      As they continue looking  for the good grass,   they get farther and farther away  from the safety of their shepherd  and the rest of the flock.

All they want  is what they think will be  “the better things in life”.      It often is not the better grass  that they thought they saw  from a distance,  so they just keep searching further.      Then comes the scary realization  that they have wandered too far  and are lost.      So,  they call out  in hopes  that their good shepherd  will hear them  and that the rest of the flock  will answer their call.

Even though lost,  there is the memory  of the good shepherd’s loving care  and the comfort  of being in the right flock.      So, 1 Peter 2:24-25  tells us,

And He Himself  bore our sins  in His body  on the cross,  that we might die to sin  and live to righteousness,  for by His wounds  you were healed.

For you were continually straying like sheep,  but now you have returned  to the Shepherd  and Guardian  of your souls.

Our straying from Jesus,  our Good Shepherd,  happens so easily.     We are often unaware  that we have left our Good Shepherd,  because we just think we’re finding the good things  in life.     But,  what looked good from a distance  was not the nourishment we really need,  and so,  we suffer from want  —  want of the good things  our Shepherd gave us.

Jesus has given His life for us  that we might have life.     When He bore our sins  on that cross,  it was that we might realize  the love of God for us.     Realizing God’s love,  we “die to sin  and live to righteousness”  —  we no longer see the sins of this world  as being the answer  to our real needs.      Instead,  we  “live to righteousness“  —  we follow our Good Shepherd’s ways  and live by His words  in the Bible  that He gives us  to feed on.

Then we understand  that it is only  “by His wounds  you were healed”.      We see that the things of this world  do not make life better for us.      They just rob us  of a real life.      It is only faith in Jesus  that heals us  from our sin sickness.       We need to know  that our own searching for things,  successes,  religions,  self-righteousness,  and philosophies  will not save us.      Only trusting in Jesus’ wounds  to wash away all of our sins  will truly save us.

As we call out  to our Good Shepherd,  He will come  to our rescue,  and then we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  thank You  for seeking us out  and rescuing us  from all our sins.      May we always feed  on Your goodness alone.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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