Like Shepherds... Like Wolves

Jesus deliberately uses the image of the sheep – the most dependent, helpless and stupid of all domesticated animals. They are easily disturbed by harmless things, and they are easily disturbed by dangerous things. And when danger comes, sheep have only one natural defense: running. And they're not very good at it. The sheep's greatest enemy in ancient Palestine and in many parts of the world is, was and always will be the wolf.

The number-one task of a good, faithful shepherd is to protect his sheep from the wolf’s attacks.  I am told that sheep do not do very well without a shepherd. Are we not so much like sheep? None of us do well without a shepherd. I need a shepherd. You need a shepherd. We all need a shepherd. When a sheep is lured away from the fold, that sheep is fair game for the wolves.

“Look after yourselves and everyone the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be like shepherds to God's church. It is the flock that he bought with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I am gone, others will come like fierce wolves to attack you.” (Acts 20:28-29) CEV

A close friend of mine told how her parents had cattle that were having baby calves. She said one day she looked out at the field and the cattle were running. She looked closely and noticed a pack of coyotes were chasing after them. They would separate the calves from their mothers, then attack them and tear them to pieces. The calves that managed to stay close to the herd were protected by the older cattle. The sheep that stays close to the sheepfold and close to the shepherd is never overtaken by a wolf. A sheep is never as open to the attack of a wolf as when the sheep strays or is lured away from the flock.

We will either be like a shepherd that seeks to protect the flock, or we will be like fierce wolves that attack the flock. It’s my hope that we will not be like the wolves that attack the sheep, but that we will be like shepherds to God’s church…reflecting our Good Shepherd.

Al Yoder

2/16/2012