1 Peter 2:21-25
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
People are like sheep a good bit and that is not an insult, entirely.
Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Sheep do indeed sing in chorus, well, I know they do when they are lambs. Texas A & M used to have flocks of lambs, they were precious.
David, was a Shepherd and did go astray. God caught his attentions with a lamb.
2 Samuel 12:1-6
12 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
You have to hand the analogy to Nathan. We have remarked before, Nathan has so much love for God and David, we can all feel the anguish of the rebuke. This is a Word fitly spoken. And we have noted before, David did name one of his children Nathan and our prophet Nathan was with David as he slept with his fathers, as a very old man.
I was once asked by my brother John, one very starry night on Padre Island, Texas if I believed man was inherently good or evil. I said actually, I believe most people are sheep. John said, oh sure right, right a Biblical answer. I said no, Charles Dickens had this correct. Man falls into a circle from proclivity and believes the circle of his existence is the correct method of life. There are good circles propelling us forward to Him, to grow up and go Home to the Father so willing to run to us. And the other circle, promoting doubt and elbows-out-master-of-our-own-destiny.
Matthew 25:14-16
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
What we tell ourselves about our Father God is important. Believing what we say and do has an impact. Life has puzzles, and suffering, Jesus saw past the suffering to the joy.
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And if we believe the Master has joy, then we see this as well...
Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?"
John 15:26
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
Psalm 30:11-12
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
<><
Posts
.jpg){kind=link}
No comments:
Post a Comment