The Sheep of My Pasture
“And you, my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are my
people, and I am your God, declares the sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 34:31
Have you ever thought
about what it is like to be a sheep? No? I suppose it is not one of those
daydreams many of us have. If we were to imagine being an animal we might
choose the stately lion, the majestic eagle or maybe a playful puppy. Sheep
just don’t come to mind that often.
Yet God describes us as
His sheep numerous times throughout Scripture and Jesus calls us as His “little
flock”. Sheep are not solitary animals; they flourish in flocks. And
domesticated sheep need a shepherd; a good shepherd. That is God’s primary
message in Ezekiel 34. His people had been ruled by “shepherds” who had no
cared for the people’s needs at all.
Instead of caring for and
feeding the sheep, these rulers had fed themselves. “You eat the fat, you
clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the choice animals, but you do
not feed the sheep!” God tells them (Ezekiel 34:3) They did not strengthen the
weak, heal the sick, bandage the injured, bring back strays or seek the lost.
Instead they were harsh and forcefully exerted their power over the people.
(Ezekiel 34:4)
As a result, the people
were scattered and were, like sheep, put at risk and became “food for every
wild beast.” Leaders, whether religious, business or political, are called to
look at the needs of those around them and be good shepherds. Instead of
finding ways to exert personal power, a good leader seeks out the hurt and
brings healing. A good leader finds ways to heal the sick and weak. A good
leader refuses to hold back they good they can do for those who have suffered
injury.
Think about the goodness
of Jesus Himself. Matthew 12:20 say about Jesus: “He will not break a bruised
reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.”
Bruised reeds matter to Jesus! We must understand that first and foremost. When
God sees our broken places He immediately sets out to heal them. When He sees
the fire nearly going out He immediately acts to ignite the flame again. He
does not blame, He does not condemn: He heals.
As His followers, we are
called to be the same. We are Jesus in the world. Spirit-filled believers are
the “flock” of this Good Shepherd. But, we also become shepherds ourselves.
When we see injustice in the world, we should also say, “Bruised reeds matter.”
We who have received the healing, strength and care of the Almighty are called
to take that same compassion into the world.
It is easy to rely on
people to gain what we think we need in life, but it is the care of Father-God
that truly satisfies. We will make mistakes along the way. We will step forward
when we should have waited. We will wait when we should have acted. But, if we
are living in complete dependence on God’s loving care, we turn from those
mistakes and reach out to the hurting once more.
As a church, I hope we at
River of Life are creating a safe space for the flock of God. For a good
shepherd, every new lamb is treated with the same care as any other. And, those
that are weaker often receive more intimate care because they are more in need.
I hope we are creating an environment where people can share the joys and the
hurts they feel. I hope we are a place that people do not have to act like all
the other sheep to fit in. We will go through ups and downs throughout life,
but the love of God will always move us to greater compassion for others and
less self-promotion. We love each other well when we point to the hope we have
in Christ while never ignoring the painful circumstances that may be present.
Remember, to follow Jesus means to be part
of a flock. Don’t stay away from the sheep pen.
Let us throw the doors of
our hearts wide open. Jesus was constantly stopping to heal those who the world
had passed by. Jesus gave His time to despised tax-collectors and prostitutes.
They mattered to Him. You matter to Him. And, sheep who have been excluded for
one reason or another especially matter to Him.
Father, may we truly follow You as our Shepherd. Let
us learn to rely on Your for Your personal care and healing of our lives.
Create in us the same heart You have for all people and help us give the same
grace we have received.
