The Best Part of Being a Sheep

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one

 to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

 

 

The Bible frequently draws an analogy between Christians and sheep.  In many instances (such as the one above), the comparison is less than flattering.  After all, sheep have many, less-than-ideal characteristics.  They are helpless and stupid; needing constant care in order to survive.  Sound familiar?  It isn't surprising that our first-century church fathers used the Greek word "shepherd" for the office that we call "pastor."

 

Sheep are gentle and non-aggressive and, therefore, need the safety of the flock for protection from predators.  A sheep that wanders alone will most certainly perish from wolves, injury, or hunger.  However, these timid creatures also tend to have a stubborn streak, resisting even the care of a kind and loving shepherd. Their tendency to follow others blindly can be a danger when they willingly follow other foolish sheep, rather than the Good Shepherd.

 

Despite the many frailties and shortcomings of sheep, there is one characteristic that sheep share that all Christians should emulate: their way of eating.  Sheep, you see, have a very unique style of eating.  While cows merely graze along the blades of the grass, a sheep will eat all the way down to the root. In fact, roots contain nutrients and moisture that are vital to the health and growth of a sheep.

 

To carry this analogy to us, as Christians, we need to look at how we "feed" on the Word.  Unfortunately, many of today's "sheep" are eating like cows; believing that they can get sufficient spiritual nourishment by grazing rather than going deep.  Their "meals" consist of skimming through a chapter in the Bible or gleaning a few truths during the service on Sunday.  Even worse are those whose spiritual diet is centered around "processed food" such as devotionals, inspirational writers, and whatever Christian book is all the rage. Discouragement and stunted growth are just a couple of the symptoms of the spiritual malnutrition that results from this type of diet.

 

Sheep need to feed all the way down to the roots.  That means being immersed in the Word of God.  American Christians have become so dependent on others to feed them, that we have lost the ability to learn for ourselves.  We don't need a famous preacher to explain God's Word to us; the Holy Spirit can do a much better job- plus, we know that He will always be right. 

 

What we do need is a genuine hunger for the meat of the Word.  Unfortunately, when you've been dining on junk food for a long time, it is hard to re-acquire a taste for good, solid fare.  Just ask any junk-food junkie!  However, the time comes when even the most resistant dieter realizes that their present style of eating is killing them and that a change is needed.  If you are looking at yourself today and realizing that you are starving spiritually and that the steady course of watered-down devotionals and sugar-coated fads trying pass themselves off as Bible studies aren't really nourishing you, then maybe it is time for a change.

 

If so, check back next week for some tips on how to begin eating like a sheep.

Milk, Meat, or Meringue?

For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5: 13-14

My husband and I made a New Year's resolution to eat healthier.  We've cut back on the sweets and included more vegetables into our diet.  It hasn't been easy and sometimes we've overindulged in the sweet stuff.  Nevertheless, we've stuck with it because we understand that to have a healthy, strong body, we need to consume the right things.

It's the same for our soul; it needs to be fed the right kind of food. When we were young in the Lord, we needed milk because we were not mature enough to handle solids.  However, we cannot stay on the bottle our whole life. Can you imagine a teenager walking around with a baby bottle? As we grow, the needs of our body changes.  We need meat to develop.  There comes a time when staying on the bottle will stunt our growth and make us malnourished.

As our bodies develop and change, so do our nutritional needs.  There are stages in our life when we need more protein, others when we need more calcium, and, face it, sometimes we just need a little comfort food.  Yet, we still need to maintain a balanced diet at all times. The same is true spiritually.  There are stages in our Christian walk when we need the strong doctrine of Romans; other times when we need to focus on the foundations of Genesis; and sometimes when we just need the comfort of Psalms. Through those stages, we need to maintain a balance of all the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament.

As my husband and I continue our quest to eat healthier, we still enjoy a sugary treat on occasion. When taken in moderation, sweets can help brighten the day and make you feel good.  Sometimes, we need a little something sweet and light in our Christian walk; what I call spiritual meringue.  There are lots of Christian books out there that are chocked full of spiritual meringue.  They make you feel good about yourself, and who doesn't need that now and then? Sometimes pastors may serve up a meringue sermon to encourage and uplift his flock.

But there is a great danger if we fail to moderate the amount of meringue in our Christian life.  After all, despite how sweet it tastes and how good it makes us feel, we need to remember that it is all fluff and no substance.  A diet that consists primarily of meringue will make us weak and eventually kill us. That is why we need to focus on the meat in our personal devotions- and make sure that our church is serving up a steady dose of the solid stuff.

The world tells us that "you are what you eat."  In a way, this passage in Hebrews is telling us the same thing.  If we are still on a diet of watered-down Scriptures, then we are trying to remain as spiritual babies.  And, babies can't do a lot to further the Kingdom of Heaven.  However, if we are consuming the meat of God's Word on a regular basis, then we are mature Christians who are spiritually fit to do God's work.

One of the first steps we had to take in eating right was to keep a daily journal of what we consume.  Most people are not aware of what they are consuming each day.  By writing it down, it makes us realize exactly what we are eating and how much of it.  What would we learn about our spiritual diet if we did this?  Are we having a steady diet of the meat of God's Word or do we snack endlessly on the latest Christian bestseller? Do we have regular meals or go for days without eating at all?

God has already laid the table for us.  With 66 incredible books to choose from, we have an endless choice of entrees.  So sidle up to the table and make sure you clean your plate. Bon appetit!