What Kind of Sheep are You?

Psalm 23 illustrates a wonderful picture of the kind of person God is by using the analogy of a good shepherd. Just as a shepherd is responsible for the well-being of his sheep, God is the One who takes care of us, provides for us, leads us, and supplies us.  The actions of the shepherd cover every area of our lives from providing us rest to feeding us and defending us. Everything you need is found here, just as verse one says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

As much as this psalm describes our God, it also can reveal what kind of people we are – or to follow the analogy, what kind of sheep we are! Take a look at just the first three verses:

Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.

What a great picture of a shepherd who truly cares for the sheep. He is the constant in this equation.  The variable is the sheep!  You see, even though the shepherd may do his part, the sheep also have to respond and be willing to be cared for.  I’ve never tried to herd sheep myself, but from what I understand, sheep can be stubborn, rebellious, lazy, or just plain distracted. Isn’t that just like us?! It isn’t enough for the shepherd to be a great shepherd.  The sheep also have to be willing to be great sheep.

What kind of sheep are you? How do you respond when God brings you into a season of rest? What do you do when you are led into a season of inactivity? Sometimes we find it difficult to receive moments of peace and quiet. We want so much to please God that we would rather He told us to try harder than to lie down in green pastures. When He offers you rest, do you willingly receive it and let Him take care of things for you?

What about when He leads you alongside quiet waters, will you drink from that stream? Will you gladly receive what He provides? This reminds me of the age-old saying that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink!  God will bring you to places where He can take care of you, but He will not force you to take what He offers.

Do you allow God to restore your soul? Or are you trying to fix yourself? Do you welcome the healing balm of His love to tend to your wounds and renew your hope? Do you welcome His peace in exchange for your troubles? 

And, finally, do you follow the Good Shepherd as He leads you along the right paths of His choosing? Do you trust that He knows what is best for you so that He can take you where He desires?  Can you humbly submit to His will?

These questions challenge all of us.  They are the questions that ask, “What kind of sheep are you?”  Although difficult to answer, these are important questions because the kind of sheep we are determines what the shepherd will be able to do for us.  All that we need - beyond all we can ask or imagine - is on offer.  But are we willing and able to receive it?!

I love the first verse of this psalm.  It brings me such hope and comfort to think that with God, I lack nothing.  Yet, this verse has also brought me deep disappointment in moments when this didn’t appear to be true and I questioned the truth of His Word.  “But I thought You said I would lack nothing?!!”

Then, I had to take an honest look at myself as the sheep, because, remember, God - the Good Shepherd - is the constant. He never changes, and His Word never fails. The variable is me and my response.  

It helps to think of this psalm as a conditional statement, an “if-then statement.”  Do you remember those from school?  If such and such is true, then this will also be true. IF the Lord is my shepherd - meaning IF I allow Him to lead me, IF I come under His care, IF I trust Him to bring me to places of rest, to heal me, and to restore my soul; IF the Lord truly is my Shepherd and I am a willing sheep, THEN I can believe and trust that under His guidance I will have everything I need. The end result is a given when I am rightly aligned with God.

As sheep, we are vulnerable to disease and predators. We have weaknesses and enemies.  Yet, one of the greatest hindrances that keeps us from the loving care of our shepherd is our stubborn independence.  The independent sheep are the hardest for the shepherd to work with, and they are the ones who miss out: on times of rest – they wander off on their own; on peace – they try to fight their own battles; on provision - they forage for themselves; on healing and restoration – they refuse the care of the shepherd.  We must beware of the independence that tempts us to think we can do it all on our own, or else we will surely miss out on God’s promises.

The point of the Christian life is not to attain perfection, therefore not needing Christ’s sacrifice. You are not meant to do it on your own and become independently righteous - if this were even possible. Instead, you are invited to wholly accept God’s gift of grace, to delight and rest in Him, to follow His lead, and to receive all that He has prepared for you according to His great love.  God actually wants you to depend on Him.  He wants to be your Shepherd because this allows Him to be your God, and He loves to be Himself!

So this is the real question: is the Lord your Shepherd?  He may be your Savior, saving you from the consequences of your sin, but have you come under His care and are you willing to follow His lead?  I encourage you to take some time to ponder this, and even ask the Holy Spirit to point out to you when you are acting like “one of those sheep” – you know, the ones without a shepherd, going their own way, doing their own things, and missing out on all the Lord has for them.  The best way to get the most out of your relationship with God is to let Him be God in your life as you learn to follow, trust, and obey – just like a willing sheep who rests in the care of its shepherd.

May you enjoy being a sheep in the loving arms of your Good Shepherd, Dear One!

A Prayer

Dear Lord, my Good Shepherd, thank You that although at times I act like a sheep that has gone astray, You continue to reach out to me, to offer me rest and peace, comfort and provision.  Thank You that you care for me – even more than I care for myself.  Help me to receive all that You have for me by trusting in You,depending on You, and even submitting to be led by You.  Thank You for Your patience, for Your kindness, and for Your great love.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.