SHEEP

Time with Jesus - 19 Dec 2013

Hi all,

Those of us who have spent any time looking around, intending to buy a house, will know how frustrating it can be. It doesn’t take long to realise that the cost of the house is only equal to the price others are willing to pay to buy it. It’s always market related and goes up and down depending on the factors others see as important. 

In most towns these factors are how far it is to the shopping centre. Another would be the proximity to good schools. The neighbourhood is very important. Is it the sort of place in which the rights of others are respected, or is it small, cramped and noisy? 

The size and condition of the garden is important. Does it appear neat and well-trimmed? Driveways, the numbers of garages and a swimming pool also elevate the house price. The other consideration is the general appearance. 

Does it look as though it is badly in need of repairs and painting? All these factors have been condensed into the statement of estate agents. They tell us the three main requirements are location, location and location.

If we think about this, we quickly realise we are little more than a great big flock of sheep. We like to gather together with those we think are mostly like ourselves. There is safety in numbers and when there are a number of people around us who are like ourselves, we feel safe. We tend to get annoyed when a neighbour neglects the garden or allows the dog to bark all night.

In this regard I recall a visit my new wife and I made in the mid 1960’s in England. We called in to visit a relation in a “posh” part of the town. We had been invited to stay overnight and, like most newly-weds, this took the strain off our somewhat limited budget. In those days, electric hair-rollers were all the rage for the ladies. Quick and easy to use, they could transform the appearance of a lady’s hair in double quick time. 

We knew we would be going out that evening with our host and hostess. Accordingly, my wife of about 1 year, spruced up her hair, put in her electric rollers, put a scarf round her head to cover the rollers and we went into the garden to join our hostess. Our hostess was horrified. “You can’t come outside with your hair in rollers” she said abruptly. “What will the neighbours think?”

A similar incident occurred in Luke’s gospel concerning what happened when Jesus had a meal with a Pharisee. ³⁷ As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited Him home for a meal. So He went in and took His place at the table. ³⁸ His host was amazed to see that He sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. ³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and wickedness! Luke 11:37-39 NLT.

Read Luke 11 to get a feeling for what transpired. Here we read the words of Jesus at their “caustic” best. He loathed and detested hypocrisy anywhere he came across it. You might say the Scribes, Pharisees and teachers of religious law got a tongue lashing, which made them hopping mad. So much so, they tried every means at their disposal to catch Him out and give them an opportunity of accusing Him of wrong doing.

When He went outside, the people “flocked” around Him. Luke 12 describes many of the things he said and did at that time and place. In many ways, His words recorded there are reminiscent of the Sermon on the Mount. Most of His words were directed primarily to His apostles, although others heard what He was saying.

²⁹ "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. ³⁰ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. ³¹ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. Luke 12:29-31 NLT

A comparison of Luke 6:31 and with Mat 6 brings out the similarity of Jesus’ words. ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:33 KJV

At that point, we have what I regard as one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture. Jesus changes in focus, turns to his apostles and says, ³² "So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. ³³ "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. ³⁴ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:32-34 NLT

I don’t make any claims to be anything other than an observer of human behaviour. I rather suspect that His apostles felt very intimidated by His discourse with the Scribes, Pharisees and teachers of the religious law. Apart from the time they had been with Him their lives as Jews would have been largely directed by these religious leaders. You didn’t speak to them like that. It would be rather like someone walking into the official state residence and telling the President and his retinue that they were a bunch of corrupt thieves. You don’t do that even if you feel you should. Not even if it’s true. You must never be rude and insulting to men in positions of authority.

Read again Jesus’ words and feel the sense of what He was saying. Bear in mind He says it as much to you and me as He did to His apostles. They are words I would like to have engraved on my heart! “Don’t be afraid!” You and I are still very much intimidated by the thinking of those around us. We like living where we do. We don’t want to make waves. We don’t want to go outside with our hair in rollers for fear of what the neighbours might say. In a strange sort of way we are far too “nice” to others. We don’t want to upset them or look like religious freaks!

In fact we are exactly what Jesus called us. A “little flock”; sheep bleating in the dark; needing the protection of the Great Shepherd. If we but realised it, we are in the hands of the living God; He is the One Who wants to give us the Kingdom. Jesus goes a step further and tells us that His Father takes pleasure in giving us His Kingdom!

His Kingdom is not a chunk of land, with a pretty looking house in an attractive setting, alongside “nice” people in a “nice” neighbourhood. That’s real estate. In the grave, its value to us is nothing. 100 years from now, what is the use of these trappings? 

But for those who love Him and serve Him, 100 million years from now, we will still be looking into the face of Jesus, loving Him and learning new things about His heaven. We’ll be in His school, acquiring more “Knowledge of the Holy!” I can hardly wait.

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Your Father's Good Pleasure is to give you the Kingdom

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 19 Dec 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	SHEEP
Generally speaking, homo sapiens are vain. At one time, this criticism was aimed primarily at the female of the species. The comment was, “Vanity, thy name is woman.” Actually, this is a misquotation. Originally it came from Hamlet and was, “Frailty, thy name is woman.” It seems to have “morphed” from the one to the other with little resistance from men or women. No doubt the reason is that both genders tend to see the opposite gender as more vain than they are. There was a time I would have said it was particularly true of women. Now I’m not so sure. I get the impression that in the vanity stakes, men and women are very much “neck and neck”. Whichever case is true, the fact remains that as a species, we are disgustingly vain. We find this in the names we select for our sports clubs. We speak of the Lions, the Sharks and the Pumas etc. Our national rugby squad is the Springboks. No prizes for identifying the Kiwis, the Wallabies and the Swallows. These are the animals and birds with which we like to identify. I’ve never come across a team called the Goldfish or the Guppies. We like things which are strong, or powerful or particularly dexterous. Somehow these images appeal to our values. You would think God would take this into consideration, when describing us collectively, as an animal or bird. Tigers or Eagles would be more in line with our opinions. Not God! He calls us sheep! I’m not a farmer and my knowledge of sheep is a bit “woolly”. But being called a sheep is decidedly “infradig”! We see them as “stupid” animals. They have no teeth and no claws. By way of teeth, they have what is best described as “grinders”. They seem to be willing to be pushed around and constantly need looking after. They scatter at the least sign of danger. Very often they will run after each other, even if this means going over the edge of a cliff. Not exactly an animal to admire and with which we would like to identify. But I suppose God knows best. So if He says we are like sheep, it must be true. If you look at us as though we are animals, it’s clear He is right. I recall one book describing us as “naked apes”. We are more or less defenceless. No teeth for slashing and tearing. We are hardly strong enough to defend ourselves from an attack by other animals. We are not well equipped for hunting or running away. Perhaps it would be true to say, “Frailty, thy name is homo sapiens”! The only advantage we have over other creatures is the ability to think and reason. Mind you, compared to God, I suppose we are stupid! We do have one advantage over all the other creatures. We are loved and valued by God. So if He wants to call me a sheep, all I can say is “bah”! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. Isaiah 40:11 NLT	Of all the animals to choose, God calls His people sheep. It’s not a word I care to use. In fact it makes me weep. Sheep really are so stupid. They do not seem to think. They get a fright and scatter as quick as we can blink. It only takes just one of them and they’re all running scared. And from my observation, that’s why we are compared, With creatures of that nature. We jump and we take flight, The instant that we are aware, that something isn’t right. Sheep are defenceless creatures. They have no teeth or claws. They only have those “grinders” located in their jaws. We’re not exactly powerful. Not one of us is strong. We do not have the stamina to fight for very long. To keep them warm in winter, sheep have a furry coat. But you and I have nothing; so chances are remote, We could survive the winter, without the clothes we wear. We have no outer covering of warm protective hair! Their mouths have been located, a bit too near their nose. So if the water’s choppy, they’ll get drowned I suppose. We have the self-same problem. We have to use a cup, Or similar utensils, if we desire to sup. Sheep graze in the meadows; it’s grass they chiefly eat. But we have got to cook our food; particularly meat! They cannot choose their pasture. The shepherd shows them where. They’re totally dependent upon the shepherd’s care. People are no different. We all would go awry, Unless we have a Shepherd Who constantly stands by. So though it is offensive, The Lord has got it right. We are just like a flock of sheep in God the Father’s sight. We’re totally dependent on Him for everything. In summer and in autumn; in winter and in spring. So many of us wander. We look for nourishment. We look for the provision that He alone has sent. When we are lost, He looks for us. He searches high and low. There are not any places to which He will not go. And when at last He finds us, He seldom wants to chide. He takes us in His loving arms and asks, “Why did you hide?” But I’m so glad I found you. You’re Mine and Mine alone. I will take good care of you. Come on, I’ll take you home.” Jim Strickland Written 19th December 2012
			32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Matthew 15:32 ESV
			15 We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. Hebrews 4:15 MSG
			13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. 14 When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with His disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." 16 Then He took the children in His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 NLT
			176 I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten Your commands. Psalms 119:176 NLT
			10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." Luke 19:10 NLT
			25 You were like sheep who were wandering away. But now you have returned to the Shepherd. He is the Leader of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25 NIrV
			32 Don't be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 GW
			15 I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares the Almighty LORD. Ezekiel 34:15 GW