I Just Wanna Be a Sheep

Sunday's Gospel reading was John 10:7-18 and started with ...Jesus said again, "Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep."  Pastor Steve's sermon and this Gospel message reminded me of Pastor Ben and the song he would sing with all of us, "I Just Wanna Be a Sheep".

Why is it that being human means being forgetful about God's love and grace?  I guess that's why He likens us to sheep, we tend to follow whoever is leading.  Who and what are we allowing to lead us?

Facts about sheep:

Sheep have good hearing, and are sensitive to noise when being handled. Sheep have excellent peripheral vision, sheep can see behind themselves without turning their heads. However, sheep have poor depth perception; shadows and dips in the ground may cause sheep to balk. In general, sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and into well-lit areas, and prefer to move uphill when disturbed.

Interesting, don't you think?  Sounds a little like us.  We too are usually very aware of our surroundings, yet things we think we see up ahead (shadows of doubt), make us worry.  When we are in that place, we should seek higher ground and well-lit areas (like God's Word, church, Godly friends,etc.) to remind us who is in charge. I never liked being compared to sheep, I thought it was an insult because I have always been told sheep aren't very bright.  This description of sheep, however, makes me realize that God has placed in them, the innate sense of where to go when they are scared.  He's done the same for us.

God is consistent.  From the beginning of creation it was clear that God created us out of His will, because He wanted to.  He created us so that He could delight in us as we take care of His garden home and serve Him.  He wanted to live among his creation.  Was that seriously too much to ask?  No! Adam and Eve didn't think so either.  Satan, the father of lies (make sure you let that sink in - the father of lies) made them doubt what God told them. After they had sinned, God did not walk away from them.  Instead He "covered" them and loved them enough to place His angel to guard the tree of life; and in effect, told them that if you can't guard my garden home, my angels will.  Can you just see God wagging His finger at Adam and Eve "Don't let things in that don't belong in the garden!".

Psalm 32:1  "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."

Side note:  In Genesis 3:21 NIV  "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."

The original Hebrew word used was "kasah"  -  which means "cover", in the sense of hide or conceal, and it's secondary meaning is to "clothe".  The word "kasah" was also used when referring to the glory cloud that enveloped Mt. Sinai and the tabernacle.  This was the sign of God's indwelling presence.  God has us covered.  It doesn't mean we won't be touched by sin or endure hardship, it means God will handle it perfectly.  Trust Him!

We are blessed because our Father forgives us!