Sheep Sheering Scenarios
December 10
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Say what? Comfort from a rod or the hook of a
staff around our necks????? The rod actually
was a wooden club that the shepherd carried and
was very skilled with. He could throw that rod
and kill a snake in a split second. There have
probably been times in all of our lives he should
have tossed that club at us and knocked some
sense into us!
God gives us a rod to toss out there and use for
our defense...His Word. We need to memorize it
and have it ready to pull out at any moment.
I wish God had used the hook of his staff more
often in my life and drawn me back from situations
I did not need to wander into.
Keller has two excellent "sheep" analogies:
"Sheering sheep is hard, dirty, smelly work, but it
helps the sheep before they go to the summer range.
The shepherd does this miserable job for the
welfare of his flock. Sometimes when we get proud or
sassy, our Master has to shear us down to size with
His Words. 'It hurts, but it helps.'"
"Sheep playing follow the leader can cause damage to
the land. They cut gullies into the ground and damage
the grass. They don't think, but just do what the sheep
in front of them does. People act like this sometimes as
well, just following the crowd. Unfortunately, the crowd
goes the wrong direction at times, leading us to trouble.
We shouldn't be foolish. Jesus, our kind Shepherd, comes
to lead us down the proper path and wants us to follow Him
in ways that are useful, kind and loving."
There is a wonderful old hymn about our life with the Shepherd.
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine, do Thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Let us early turn to Thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Let us early turn to Thee.
Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Say what? Comfort from a rod or the hook of a
staff around our necks????? The rod actually
was a wooden club that the shepherd carried and
was very skilled with. He could throw that rod
and kill a snake in a split second. There have
probably been times in all of our lives he should
have tossed that club at us and knocked some
sense into us!
God gives us a rod to toss out there and use for
our defense...His Word. We need to memorize it
and have it ready to pull out at any moment.
I wish God had used the hook of his staff more
often in my life and drawn me back from situations
I did not need to wander into.
Keller has two excellent "sheep" analogies:
"Sheering sheep is hard, dirty, smelly work, but it
helps the sheep before they go to the summer range.
The shepherd does this miserable job for the
welfare of his flock. Sometimes when we get proud or
sassy, our Master has to shear us down to size with
His Words. 'It hurts, but it helps.'"
"Sheep playing follow the leader can cause damage to
the land. They cut gullies into the ground and damage
the grass. They don't think, but just do what the sheep
in front of them does. People act like this sometimes as
well, just following the crowd. Unfortunately, the crowd
goes the wrong direction at times, leading us to trouble.
We shouldn't be foolish. Jesus, our kind Shepherd, comes
to lead us down the proper path and wants us to follow Him
in ways that are useful, kind and loving."
There is a wonderful old hymn about our life with the Shepherd.
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine, do Thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Let us early turn to Thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Let us early turn to Thee.
Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
