John 10:1-5: Sheepdogs

In the scriptures we have often been compared to sheep. In contemporary shepherding we are also comparable to sheepdogs. Shepherd Jared Epp showed us a number of ways at Beaver Creek Camp one summer:

* Sheepdogs know their master’s voice;

* Sheepdogs learn their master’s signals;

* The longer they serve the good shepherd the more they get to know him;

* Sheepdogs have a job to do;

* Their job is to herd the sheep to the shepherd;

* The nature of the sheepdogs is such that if they were left completely to their own devices they would quite likely kill the sheep;

* When they follow the shepherd not one sheep needs to be lost.

This is a lot like us as Christians. We are the Lord’s sheepdogs. We have been tasked with the great commission to proclaim the good news to the world so that whosoever will may be saved. If we try to do this on our own we will fail and some sheep will inevitably perish. However, as we turn our eyes and our ears toward Jesus – the Good Shepherd – as we listen to his direction and follow his lead, he will use us to bring the whole flock safely home to be with him. As this is the case it is my prayer that we will all be faithful sheepdogs.

Question: Are we working for the Lord as a sheepdog works for the shepherd? How are the attributes of a sheepdog of salvation reflected in your life of serving the Lord?

More daily blogs at

https://salvogesis.blogspot.ca/

---

Based on the article by Captain Michael Ramsay, We are Sheepdogs. Sheepspeak (August 24, 2009) On-line: http://renewnetwork.blogspot.ca/2009_08_01_archive.html#3592587213509775337

Comments

Psalm 147:7-11: Does God Prohibit the Kilt?

7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. 10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man [or ‘the warrior’]; 11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:10 : “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man.” I thought this was an appropriate passage to look at on Robbie Burns Day. For Christmas one year Susan bought me some Bible Commentaries on Psalms. In one of these books the author, Peter C. Craigie, from Scotland, writes: …. It was the custom in Scotland for boys to ...

Poor No More! Count me in! (Mt 26:11, Mk 14:7, Jn 12:8, Dt 15:11)

Matthew 26:11 (Mark 14:7, John 12:8) Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 15:11 in saying, “the poor will always be with you” As this is the case, Ignacio Ellacuria says, in essence, the great salvific task is to evangelize the poor so that out of their poverty they may attain the spirit necessary first to escape their indulgence and oppression, second to put an end to oppressive structures, and third to be used to inaugurate a new heaven and a new earth, where sharing trumps accumulating and where there is time to hear and enjoy God’s voice in the heart of the material world and in the heart of human history. [3] I think that is very important. We need to evangelize the poor. We know what the word evangelize means, right? It comes from the Greek word ‘euangelion’, which means ‘good message’ or ‘good news’. [4] We need to share the good news with the poor. Jesus, as recorded in Luke 4:18, in his very early sermon in the synagogue in his very own hometown quoted the prophet Isaia...

Low Saturday (Genesis 3, Revelation 21)

Hello, I am Major Michael Ramsay from TSA. As well as running The Salvation Army, the Bread of Life soup kitchen, shelter and The Salvation Army thrift store, I am a Christian pastor / teacher. This weekend is Easter. That is the most important time on the Christian Calendar. Christians acknowledge Jesus as God. Our teachings tell us that God, as creator, created the whole world. And when He did it was perfect. Not only did we not harm each other, ourselves or the earth; but we never got sick, we never got injured; and the earth itself – the trees did not fall to the ground and die. Animals did not eat animals. All of creation was in perfect harmony. The Creator even walked in this Garden He created with people He created. Then something happened. The first people created made a choice. Because of this choice, death, decay, harm and hurt entered the world. Where there was none before, now there was illness, injury and death for all of creation. Plants, animals and al...

Salvogesis

Search This Blog