May the mumbling commence!
Though sometimes our leaders take advantage of us and
lead us astray… or do not lead at all, we have the Good Shepherd. The gospels mention the Good Shepherd…
especially the gospel according to John.
The roots of this thought comes from Ezekiel chapter thirty-four. Read a passage from it below:
"For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will
be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all
the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring
them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and
nations. I will feed them on the
mountains of Israel and by the rivers in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and
feed in lush mountain pastures. I
myself will tend my sheep and cause them
to lie down in peace, says the
Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away,
and I will bring them safely home again.
I will bind up the injured and
strengthen the weak.
But I will destroy those who are fat and
powerful. I will feed them, yes – feed
them justice!
And as for you, my flock, my people, this is what the
Sovereign Lord says: I will judge
between one sheep and another, separating the sheep from the goats. Is it not enough for you to keep the best of the pastures for yourselves? Must you also trample down the rest? Is it not enough
for you to take the best water for
yourselves? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? All that is left for my flock to eat is what
you have trampled down. All they have to drink is water that you have fouled.
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will surely judge between the fat sheep and the scrawny sheep. For you fat sheep push and butt and crowd my sick and
hungry flock until they are scattered to distant lands. So I will
rescue my flock, and they will no longer be abused and destroyed. And I will
judge between one sheep and another. And
I will set one shepherd over them, even my servant David. He will feed them and
be a shepherd to them. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant
David will be a prince among my people. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Verses 11-24)
The passage starts out with some comforting
thoughts. Rescue is on the way. We will be well taken care of.
Then, the passage turns to a less comfortable subject –
that of judging amongst the sheep. Let’s
honestly look at ourselves as a nation.
Are we the fat sheep? I have no
recourse but to admit we are. Judgment
is coming. Have no doubt. But are we ready to change our headstrong
ways as a nation?
Let’s go to the Great Shepherd, the descendant of David,
even Jesus the Christ. He will lead us a
right. He is the light of the
world. Read from John chapter eight:
Jesus said to the people, "I
am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the
darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
(Verse 12)
No more stumbling!
What are we waiting for?!? Let’s
listen for the Good Shepherd’s voice and obey it.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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