I have been thinking about Pastor Joel’s
sermon of two weeks ago where he talked about how dumb sheep
are.
This morning I awoke with a very strong
image in my mind of a ram caught in the thicket. I am, of course, thinking of
Abraham and Isaac on the Mount. As Abe and his son trudged up the mountain,
Isaac asked, “Father, where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replied,”
The Lord will provide the
Lamb for the burnt offering, My Son!” At the right time (Gal.4:4-5), the pair
saw the ram caught in the thicket. The Lord provided the lamb for the
sacrifice.
As I came to -- even before my morning
coffee! -- I saw myself as that dumb sheep that had gotten caught in the thorns!
Yes, I got there by my own devices. I ran away. I wandered off from the safety
of the sheepfold and protection of the Shepherd. I placed myself in that
situation. I was at fault. I am to blame for my situation. It was my sin that
got me there. I am caught in a trap of my own making. I listened to and believed
the Enemy’s lie. I fell, hook, line and sinker for his deception. It’s true, I
was like that dumb sheep. I followed the crowd, went where every other dumb
sheep has been before me, and will still end up going.
So, as I come out of the deep fog of a
good night’s sleep, I am lying there, stuck with barbs in my fur and cannot move
because, if I do, it will mean the barbs dig deeper and tear into my skin, and
the pain will grow more intense. I am stuck, and I cannot free myself. I need a
Saviour! I need a Shepherd armed with wire
cutters! I need Him to rescue me. I need Him to tend
my wounds, to salve my pain, to heal me.
It is said that often the Shepherd will
leave the lamb in the thorn bush until it stops struggling, and gives up trying
to free itself in its own
strength. Then, and
only then, does the Shepherd come to free the stricken lamb.
You would think that after being one of His sheep for more than 45 years that I
would realize this! It is also said that the Shepherd will pour and rub oil into
the wounds of the sheep’s skin to bring health, healing, reconciliation,
restoration, and renewal.
We cannot save ourselves. When we get
ourselves into a situation where we cannot extricate ourselves, we need to stop
struggling and let Him save us. We need a Saviour to do the work of Salvation
for us.
We need a
Saviour armed with powerful cutting shears to free us! We need a Saviour Who
will rub oil in our wounds and heal our scars! Call on Him while He may be
found!(Is.55:6).
I will still bear the wounds of my
self-inflicted pain, but He will bring the Balm of Gilead, pour oil in my
wounds, and heal my broken heart, mind, soul and body. My wounds will become
trophies to remind me of His Grace. I will experience His Mercy. (Grace is
getting what you haven’t earned; Mercy is not getting what you deserve). He
will renew my spirit and put a new song in my mouth (Ps.40:3)!
Thank God that He has
done this in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary! He came after me!
PRAYER: I praise you
Father, that you have not left me to my own devices, but that You took the
initiative to come and rescue me (Rom.5:8). I acknowledge, confess, and repent
of my sin (1 John 1:9). Please forgive me and renew a right spirit within me
(Ps.51:10) and, when I am tempted to stray away again (Jam.1:14-15), please
correct me with your Shepherd’s crook. (“Thy Rod and Staff, they Comfort me,”
Ps.23:4). Amen.
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