Learning to be a good sheep

Over and over again, we must learn to become a sheep instead of trying to be shepherds. Often, we're confronted by preying lions of this life who we feel fit to fend off, only to be found dragging ourselves, mangled and bloody, back to the patient and strong shepherd we have in Jesus. We must grab ahold of our low position and acknowledge our incapacity to lead ourselves in order to gain true strength and wisdom. We will wander, burrs getting stuck in our fur all the while from lack of obedience, because of our pride. He wants to take them out for us, though it hurts. We can either resist Him or we can humble ourselves to go through the process of refinement, of being made clean again.

He is dealing with me right now in big ways--I asked for it! But man, is it painful. Going into this year, I knew that living in such close quarters with other friends who strive to follow Jesus would come with huge blessings, but also with huge transparency. We bring our crap home with us, and here we must be honest with one another. Here, we must, like Jesus, share life--our joys and burdens, anxieties, personal struggles. We are called to sacrificial living and to loving each other AS we love ourselves. And we are called to hold each other accountable to it. Sometimes I just want to hide away when I don't feel like loving well, and sometimes we hurt each other. But at the same time, God is using these close relationships to show us our true selves and to help us get rid of our junk by bringing it into our line of vision. He helps us, by way of others, see the planks in our own eyes. And what sweet forgiveness is with Him, too. We just cannot get disheartened, feeling that we're simply horrible because we are finally being convicted of our neediness. It is for our good that we see the bad! And He WILL change us.


As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
--Ezekiel 34:12

For the household gods utter nonsense,and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreamsand give empty consolation.Therefore the people wander like sheep;they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
--Zechariah 10:2

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and
scatters them.
--John 10:10-12

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. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
--1 Peter 2:24-25