Come, Sheep, Come

Yesterday Dave and I watched a YouTube video produced by a family in the southern U.S. They are homesteading some land. They are so excited about the opportunity they have to live such a simple life.

In the video, the wife was showing the animals they have, and she stopped at the sheep pen. The sheep were on the other side of the enclosure until she said “Come, sheep, come”. They lifted their heads and started moving in her direction. She repeated it once more and sheep came right to her.

They knew the voice of their shepherdess and they came. She didn’t holler to get their attention she just called for them in a normal tone. They knew her voice and came.

It was such a picture of how we should follow Jesus our good shepherd.

“The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. ⁵ The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.” John 10:3-5 CEV

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. ¹⁵  Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep.” John 10:14-15 CEV

The Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.

As a good shepherd, He sees to it that we are well rested and fed. He protects us from evil. He searches for us when we go astray, and He carries us when we are weary. And when it was necessary, He gave His life to save us.

“You know the Lord is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 CEV

Sheep are natural followers. In the ranching community, cattle need to be herded. You’ve seen the cattle drives in the movies; it takes a number of good cowboys to move a herd. Sheep follow.

I pray that we follow the Shepherd. Through His word we hear His voice, by the inner prompting of the Spirit we know the right way to go.

“Father, I make the decision to listen to the Shepherd’s voice and I will follow Him to green pastures beside still waters and He will restore my soul. Amen.”