Seeds For Thinking

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* The Lambs Finally Got It!
* Scripture: Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my lambs;" "Tend my sheep;" "Feed my sheep." (from John 21:15-17)

O Happy Day! The lambs finally got it! They all stayed with the rest of the flock when it came time to move.
We practice a system of grazing that requires frequent moves from one section of the pasture to another. Once we have the portable fences set up for the next paddock, we open the fence and let the sheep move onto fresh grass.
The older sheep know the routine, and stand waiting whenever they see us getting ready. The lambs, though, are so full of life and vigor that they seem to lose track of where mama is and what the rest of the flock is doing.
"Lambie-Lambie-Lambie-SHEEP!" Heads pop up, grazing stops, and the sheep move toward the shepherd. It takes a while for lambs to associate the shepherd's call with a move to a better pasture, though. Running and leaping is such fun that it takes some of them a while to notice that they have been left behind. Then they are apt to panic and try to go through the fence rather than the open gate. They may also turn and run the opposite way, away from safety, away from nourishment.
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep." What if the Shepherd is willing, but the lambs won't cooperate?
Thinking about this gives me a new appreciation of the task Jesus gave Peter:
I can just imagine Peter praying about it. "Lord, about these sheep of yours: Some never seem to catch on. They don't associate the Good Shepherd's call with a better life ahead. They are having such a good time that they don't gather with the rest of the flock."
"They seem to prefer pleasure and comfort above the Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Mt. 4:4)
"I call them to come to Your gate in the sheepfold, Lord, but they either do not hear me, or ignore my call. They seem to have no problems hearing the call of the evil one, though. I am not an hireling who leaves the sheep. I would be willing to lay down my life for the sheep, just as you did for all of us. I fear that some of them will be left behind and lost forever."
We, as Christians, find ourselves in Peter's shoes. We are both sheep and shepherds, in the tradition of Matthew Chapter 10.
As sheep, we need to listen to the call of The Good Shepherd.
As shepherds, we need to share with the sheep 'out there' that Jesus is indeed the door, the way to salvation, and lead the lambs to find the pasture of eternal life.
June 18, 2006