There are different kinds of shepherds.  First we will speak of the biblical shepherds watching over their sheep.  The true shepherd walks among them, to get to know them, and for them to know him.  In the Holy Land you often would see a shepherd, or even a child, walking with sheep following, and that is because they are being led to the slaughter.  In front also is a sign of pride and ego, being “high and lifted up,” and having no concern over the sheep, just self and having a following.  A shepherd walking behind the sheep is letting them go any direction they want and will lose most of them if not all.  He just doesn’t care.  The true shepherd stays close to them all and watches over them.  His staff has a hook at one end to hook around the neck of a sheep that starts to wander off, and the other end is used to poke wild animals to keep them away from the sheep.  Sometimes a sheep will go astray, and when the shepherd has secured the others in a safe place, will follow the sheep that has walked off.  Eventually, the sheep will collapse from exhaustion and begin to bleat, and will continue to bleat until it eventually dies.  The shepherd will watch and listen for the right moment before total exhaustion, and then go and pick the sheep up, drape the sheep over the back of his neck, and nurse it back to health and strength.  At the same time he is talking to the sheep so it will completely know the sound of his voice, and never stray again, once he puts it back down with the other sheep. And when night falls, shepherds will put the sheep in a coral and lay in front of the opening, or gate, to protect them while they sleep and keep one or more from walking off into the darkness.  When shepherds are gathering together by a campfire, and it’s time to go to sleep, they each make their own sounds and their sheep will follow him, because they know their shepherd’s voice.

                The world has a shepherd system, but is completely different.  Most of the time those shepherds are up high and in front of the sheep, where if the sheep are close enough they, maybe, can see him, and maybe close enough to hear what he as to say.  Most only receive the words from a messenger the shepherd sends out.  And when the shepherds fellowship and at the end begin to go their own way, most of the sheep don’t know the shepherds voice, so the only way they can be separated is to ear mark them or brand them.  And along with helping to separate them and prevent any from going astray, the shepherds will send out their dogs to intimidate them, and bring them back into the fold

It’s your decision which shepherd you follow, but eventually, now that you have heard The Message, you will do one or the other.  You will totally reject it and go back to one of the other folds with an earmark or brand, or you will accept the message, and then get to know your shepherd and the sound of His voice.  You can hear his voice, but it is “a still small voice” deep down inside your gut, your midriff, not up in your intellect, or in your soul, your emotions and affections, which is what you have been listening to all of your life.  The worldly shepherds get you to follow through your mind and emotions.  The Lord guides and directs you through your spirit, separated from the intellect and the emotions by the double, (2)-edged sword of the spirit, the Word of God, Christ.  Remember, “God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Perfect Love in Christ,

Darlene Luke

PO Box 1883

Bethany, OK 73008-1883