Christians and Sheep    

Have you ever wondered why the Bible compares us to sheep? Years ago I did a study on how we are like sheep. I didn't read any christian books that anyone had written on that subject, just the Bible and a library book on raising sheep. It was amazing the parallels I found while reading the sheep raising book.

Years ago shepherds kept their sheep in places that were very dirty but safe from predators. Each morning the shepherd would call his sheep out one by one and run his hands over their body to be sure his sheep did not have any festering sores or had been injured while in the dirty enclosure.

Can you imagine Jesus, our Shepherd, calling us out by our name and checking how our lives are doing from living in a dirty world? He is looking for cuts and bruises and festering wounds that we have acquired by living in an imperfect sinful world. This is our time to hear Him calling us, to hear Him speak to us. This is our time to come to Him; spending time with our Lord. As He searches our hearts we receive forgiveness and healing for our wounds, physically, spiritually and mentally.

Shepherds would also take their flock out very early in the mornings so they might graze in peace before the insects and small bugs began swarming and irritating them,  thus distracting them from grazing.

Hmmm, I wonder if that means we should try to use the early morning to spend some special time with Jesus? I love the early morning hours. My mind is quieter and my body is relaxed. I love to sit in the back yard during the quiet early mornings and meditate on the Lord. Of course I know that our schedules dictate when we can spend time with the Lord but as long as we do so on a daily basis then the Lord can minister to us.

Did you know that the shepherd would not let his flock stay grazing too long in one place? The reason being the sheep would graze to the ground and ingest parasites from the dirt. Then of course the sheep would become unhealthy and sick.

This tells me it is extremely important that we study the whole Bible, not just our favorite scriptures. If we do this we will be balanced in our beliefs and in our walk with Jesus which in turn will makes us healthy strong christians.

Now this next point amazed me. The shepherds long ago would lead their flocks over rocky ground. Why? The shepherd would use the rocky ground to knock the parasites out of the hooves of the sheep, again, so they would not get sick and die.

What an answer to our question as to 'why' certain things seem to happen to christians besides the fact that we live in a sin-sick world or we are allowing sin in our lives. Jesus is helping to knock those wiggleworms out of our spiritual life so that we can be strong and faithful in our walk with Him. 
We know that when we are going through a tough time we spend more time in prayer and in the Word which in turn strengthens us. Did you notice how much stronger you felt when it was over?
When I wrote down what I had been going through since 1994 I was amazed at how much Jesus was there for me; His strength and His comfort and His anointing. I have grown up in church and I know that He is faithful but when I actually read what I had written and saw how often he undergirded me I was floored and I was excited and encouraged all over again.
Another point I would like to make is this. When the shepherd would lead his flock over rocky ground it was to knock out the parasites, in our case sins. We probably did not 'walk our hooves' into places like x-rated movies but how about where our thoughts might take us; our eyes might take us; or our ears might take us? Not necessarily a deliberate thing but it is there in us anyway. And the Lord has made a way to knock the parasites out of our 'hooves'.