Lenten Devotional, Day 24: My Favorite Calling: Sheep/Child
Dear Saints,
Friday's Scriptures are Psalm 23, 1 Samuel 15:22–31, Ephesians 5:1–9.
THE SHEPHERD IS FOREMOST A SHEEP:
This is really my point from yesterday. David was a servant, protege, warrior, celebrity, friend, husband, refugee, raider, father, commander, scandal, song writer, musician, and king. But first he was a shepherd boy, and the shepherd never forgot he was a sheep. And as a sheep he loved the Shepherd and was ever after His heart.
Perhaps you too have lived to take on many roles, including calling/s in ministry. But never forget a Christian never outgrows being a sheep. And sheep have a loving devotion to the Shepherd. And they have no desire to be somebody, but only to be with the shepherd.
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green
pastures. He leads me beside still waters." (Psalm 23:1–2).
"Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people
of his pasture, and the sheep of His hand." (Psalm 95:6–7).
"Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalm 100:3).
Sheep are devoted to the Shepherd, hence devotional. Let us never outgrow simply following our Good Shepherd and listening to His voice. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27).
"AS BELOVED CHILDREN"
That is from Ephesians 5:1. The oldest, most mature, finish-line-crossing Christian is still a child. We never outgrow being a child, a BELOVED child!
Continuing the shepherd-sheep theme: "He will tend His flock like a Shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." (Isaiah 40:11).
And children are wont, like Mary of Bethany, who: "Sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching." (Luke 10:39).
And in a most intimate way, children never tire "from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3).
And children have not a religious bone in their body. When Jesus is around they rush on Him no matter the scene or interruption or lack of decorum and despite aghast on-lookers. And what did (and does) Jesus do: "He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them." (Mark 10:16).
"SMALL IN Y/OUR OWN EYES"
And beloved child, know that sitting in the lap of God: The Uncreated Holy, The Unconceived Glory, The Unmastered Beauty has a way of preserving that child-like humility and wonder called: being "small in y/our own eyes," even should one ascend to a throne as King. (1 Samuel 15:7). For notwithstanding, He is yet ever King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16).
So as for being "small in y/our own eyes," that offends the cult of self-assertion. But hear me out: At the foot of Everest glancing upward; taking in the span & depth of the Grand Canyon; in the middle of the deep blue sea; staring at a starry, starry night — what is it you feel? You feel small, lost, absorbed. And that is the wonder or those things. That is part of the exhilaration. How much more when the big is GOD. There is a good sense to losing ourselves in something greater than us. Their is a freedom to being "small in y/our own eyes." And life works best when GOD IS BIG and people are small.
The Only Best in/is Christ,
tIM