Sheep

Living Left Handed In a Right Handed World

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Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16 ESV

I was born left-handed, and I still painfully remember the upside down feeling of learning to write. At Hamilton Elementary, all children were taught penmanship right-handed. But I held my paper entirely upside down, gripped the pen the wrong way and on my report card every quarter appeared the inevitable F.

What I could never shake was the feeling of being upside down. That is the same feeling that Jesus is preparing us for with this verse. He tells us we are going out like sheep among wolves. Now if we stop to think about it we would all agree that there is no competition in a fight between sheep and wolves. The wolves have bigger teeth, are stronger and can run circles around sheep. Nevertheless Jesus confidently sends us out because we have one thing the wolf doesn’t have. We have the shepherd!  KIMG0458

When we get into a wolf-fight, our first tendency is to sign up for the “How to fight like a Wolf” seminar. We think if we could just try a little harder, change our tactics or develop a quicker response, we might come out on top. But that wasn’t the Lord’s idea at all. What Jesus wanted was for us to live life walking close behind Him. Being strong enough to protect ourselves can never compare to having the protection of the Lord. We are no match for wolves, but they will run away from us when they come face to face with our Shepherd. Then He makes us lie down in green pastures and turns our world right side up!

Is He Calling Your Name?

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The waiting room is noisy and crowded. People are trying different ways to not look stressed. Some are reading, some texting a friend while others simply sit quietly. But if we were honest all of us are straining to hear only one thing and that is for our own name to be called.

But we will never be called unless the doctor is expecting us. We will never be expected unless we have scheduled an appointment. And they will never schedule that appointment until the terms of payment are accepted.

Have I made that appointment with God? Does He have my name written down in his book? My great assurance is that He has found me – His lost sheep and brought me and all the other wanderers home to Himself. When the bill for our rescue came due He stamped across the invoice – paid in full! Because the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for His sheep any moment now He will be calling your name!

God’s Service Department

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If you have worked in the service department of any store you know that returns can be a challenge. People lose their receipts or bring in things that are just worn out with age. Worse yet some try returning items that came from another store. All of this takes time and patience and tempers sometimes flare. But no matter what the problem, the goal is to restore confidence and put things back in their rightful place.

Today’s scripture talks about a different kind of returning. We are the ones who need to be returned to where we belong. We have forgotten where home is and spiritually speaking have lost our receipt. But nothing can prevent God from restoring us. We can be accepted whether we are worn out, broken or even purchased at another store. God is in the business of returns so don’t even think of giving up. Right now He is willing to accept us as his own and become the Shepherd of our souls!

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25