I was at the Adelaide Show and somehow found myself in a sheep pen!

Well, not quite in the pen, but in the hall where they were auctioning off the sheep – merino bulls to be exact.

Reading Ezekiel 34 – God’s Shepherd and his Sheep got me thinking. Is it derogatory to be compared to a sheep? After all, in Ezekiel 34 it is clear that there was the one true Shepherd and that would be Jesus – and he cared for his flock – his sheep. Now if we each are following that shepherd, then we are the sheep! Is it a bad thing to be labelled a sheep?

In our world when you think of a sheep you usually think of a particular dumb animal (or is this just me!?). A sheep which needs help in just about every aspect of life! It needs to be protected from predators, helped in the way they relate with other sheep, groomed and sheared to keep it from infection, and led to and from pasture to ensure that it is well fed. Further, sheep are ever so willing to go where the other sheep go – if it is into danger then so be it.

Pretty helpless really!

Well here is some food for thought! Being helpless does not make you worthless.

In fact, the opposite is true. The fact that this shepherd chooses to care for his sheep in such a way that he would lay his life down to protect the life of his sheep, makes his sheep pretty valuable.

I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. (Ezekiel 34:12)

 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– just as the Father knows me and I know the Father– and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:14-16)

No it is not derogatory especially if you know the one who gives you your reason for existence. But even if it was, it is far better to be helpless than to be worthless.

Just for the record – the merino bulls that I saw were auctioned off for not less than $21,000 each. That sounds like a very valuable sheep to me. No Bull!

• Leaders – you are shepherds in the name of Jesus – so selflessly care for you flock.
• Brother and Sisters at 5pm Church – enjoy the blessings of being in Christ’s flock and ensure you don’t make it difficult for others to enjoy the same blessings.