Bible Reading: Psalm 100
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” – Psalm 100:3 (KJV)
A sheep is defined by Oxford Dictionary as a domesticated ruminant mammal with a thick wooly coat and (typically only in the male) curving horns. It is kept in flocks for its wool or meat, and is proverbial for its tendency to follow others in the flock.
Some of the characteristics of a sheep include: inability to defend themselves because they have no fighting skills. So when Jesus referred to Christians as sheep, he meant that they would totally depend on him. Secondly, the sheep produces wool naturally. It doesn’t need to struggle to do this. It bears fruits naturally regularly. Christians are expected to bear fruits naturally. Winning souls and bearing fruits with our talents and gifts. Everything God has given us, it is to bring more people to the kingdom and build the body of Christ. Thirdly, sheep are careful eaters. They do not eat junk food or just anything. They choose their meal. They eat fresh and good quality grass. God expects us to be choosy and take our fresh food from the word always. The word will always produce good food.
Another Characteristic of the sheep is that it follows its Shepherd. It recognizes and knows the voice of its owner. If you have ever been to a river or stream where different Shepherds bring their sheep to drink water, there you will find that even when the sheep are mixed up while drinking, the moment a Shepherd indicates his willingness to go, only his own sheep will file behind him! This is what God expects of us his children. That we should recognize his voice and follow him at all times. That presupposes that we would hear him at all times and not allow the noise around to prevent us from hearing.
A number of times, God is guiding and teaching us what to do but we do not hear, and once we do not hear, we cannot obey. He says in Psalm 32:8 (KJV), “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Many times, God is speaking to us through the bible, the pastor’s message, revelation through other brethren, dreams, still small voice in us, prophecies, spiritual songs etc, but we are not hearing him or not understanding the message. The reason for the poor understanding is lack or inadequate fellowship with our Pasture, Jesus Christ.
We need to learn to fellowship with Jesus through praise and worship as well as meditating on his words and staying still in his presence listening to him. God Almighty will give us the grace to recognize and obey his voice every time he speaks to us in Jesus name.
Prayer Point: Give me the grace to follow you to the end in Jesus name.
Bro Biodun Oyapero