Dirty Sheep

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” 1 Peter 4:7-11

These are tough times indeed! The news services are frantically capturing the latest twist and turn of a society spinning downward into further morale decay and decadence. That, which folks have trusted in and hoped, the financial, legal, or political systems have let them down. Leaders have let us down, families are in turmoil, and the dreams of many are fading.
What if… the very things that we’ve sought after and so longed for were… wrong. Could so many be mistaken? Has not history proven the gullibility of a generation, a people, or a nation?

While leaders keep silent… what happens to the sheep? Who speaks for the broken, the wounded, the poor, and the needy? Who is their advocate?
Be assured that through it all God is on the throne; God has a plan, a plan for our good. For just as a pebble causes calm water to move and come to life so trouble in our lives. See the need that we express to one another; notice our interaction one with another.
The stale prayers are more fervent, with more passion, and more desperation. Our pocket books are opening to give and not take, our silent sins are on the run as the glare of Christ’s righteousness rises in our hearts.
For us to move and look forward a bit we need motivation. We sheep like our little patch of green, we don’t mind so much the mud hanging dried on our wool, we see no need to change… but Christ our shepherd sees the coming storm and so leads us away.

To the edge of the mountain or to the valley deep and lush. He cleanses us in His rivers of water for he knows we need cleaning up. Mud and dirt in our lives is a breeding ground for all sorts of nasty bugs… therefore he cleans us and it is painful, it does not feel good, but to be healthy it is so needed.

When trouble comes don’t run from it, run to God. When plans fail, revisit the Great Architect, maybe His plans are greater than your own. In times of turmoil allow that turmoil to break you, humble you, and change your direction. Don’t harden your heart… fear God… seek humility… seek the Shepherd’s soothing voice… He is near!