Trying to protect myself I ended up on the dangerous precipice of pride, hands on hips, telling God what my parameters were. God could call me to the ends of the earth and I would go as long as He did not require one certain thing…
It began six years ago. I stepped out of Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church and into a bright spring morning. It was nearing the end of the semester and I had just finished preaching my first sermon for a Christian Ministries class. It went well, nonetheless I walked away vowing to never preach again. Within the week I changed majors.
For months now I have known God would ask me to lay down my pride and trust Him in this area. After a good amount of kicking and screaming I relented. We had been in Zambia all of two days when I knew it was time and for the first time in six years I was ok with that.
God impressed Ezekiel 34 on my heart, with a specific emphasis on verses 15-16, looking toward Jesus as the Good Shepherd (also Psalm 23 and John 10).
It begins with the Shepherd feeding us and making us to lie down. For us there is a great importance found in feeding on the Word of God and finding our rest in Him alone. This is where we draw our strength and this is what keeps us from wandering away.
If we are not feeding and resting properly we usually find ourselves wandering off into trouble. Sheep are also easily frightened, defenseless, kind of stupid animals who are notorious for wandering off and “All we like sheep have gone astray, each to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). We slowly turn from God and His protection by filling up on our own desires.
Once we have had our fill we look around to find we can no longer see the Shepherd or hear His voice. We find we are alone, lost, frightened, defenseless and in danger. Often we even accuse God for not faithfully taking care of and protecting us when we are the ones who turned and walked away. The consequences leave us separated, weak and broken because ultimately all sin leads to our own destruction (Romans 6:23).
Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, offers all we need though. We are to be completely dependent on Him for provision, guidance and protection. Anything less is following our own foolish desires. Anything less is sin.
Jesus laid down His life to cover our sins so we do not have to live in sin. He desires to rescue the lost, bind the broken and heal the hurt, but we have to call to Him in repentance.
I knew this message was for the church in Zambia where I would speak but God used it to clearly speak to me as well. I had some repenting of my own to do. All this time and I foolishly still do not trust God’s provision, guidance and protection.
Want to be a sheep or not I still am one, cute and fuzzy (since I have not shaved in several days) but so often fearful and foolish.
Thankfully Jesus loves cute but not so bright little sheep.
