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The Good Shepherd There is a story going around, it suggests that a shepherd will break the legs of a sheep that wanders away or strays from the flock. The story suggests that the shepherd will break the leg, splint it up and then carry the sheep on his shoulders until the sheep is healed. According to this story while being carried the sheep will become dependent on and get to know the shepherd and thus will follow him and not stray again. This story is not biblically sound! Some have chosen to use that theory and the following scripture to suggest that the Lord, the Good Shepherd would do the same to His sheep. ”For He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole.” (Job 5 vs 18 ) The meaning of this verse is, that afflictions come from God, and that He only can support, comfort, and restore. Healing is what He does best; and all the comfort we need, and for to whom we can look, must be in, from and to Him. He is our Comforter! He is our Healer! He is our Deliverer! Knowing the story of Job and what was really going on, we know the truth! Job was being tested by the enemy and the Lord allowed it because He believed in the faith and the patience of His servant Job. “And the LORD said unto satan, hast thou considered My servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1 vs 18 ) Although I understand the intent of this analogy, it has some major flaws! This leg breaking theory may be what a bad shepherd might do but not what a Good Shepherd would do when a sheep wanders according to the Word of God! “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.” (Matthew 18 vs 12,13) Jesus is the Good Shepherd! John 10:11 says, “"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” And. John 10 vs 14 says, “"I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” This scripture tells us He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. He doesn’t have to break their legs to get them to follow Him, they choose to follow Him! Our Shepherd is a good shepherd! Those that use what Job said to prove their leg breaking theory forgot what Job said just before the verse they like to use to show our Lord as a leg breaking Shepherd. "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5 vs 17) Of course He will correct us as any good parent would but our Lord wants us to choose to follow Him, not be forced to. And what good parent would injure their to make them submit? He wants us to follow Him because we love Him not because we’re afraid of Him. He gave us a will to choose to follow Him...or not. The choice is ours and always has been. So if we find our Good Shepherd carrying us it’s because of something we did to ourselves and He carries us while we heal or are too weak to stand or walk on our own. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40 vs 11)  Live like there's no tomorrow Laugh when you feel like crying Love like you've never been hurt |
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Another thought: "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 vs 6 If the 'sin' of my straying was put on Him and He paid the penalty for that sin with His very own blood, why would He punish me for a sin He already atoned for? Live like there's no tomorrow Laugh when you feel like crying Love like you've never been hurt
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It's still there!  Live like there's no tomorrow Laugh when you feel like crying Love like you've never been hurt
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Question ; Is it in the difficult times that we draw near to God Or are we more prone to seek Him in times of abundance ?
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Question ; Is it in the difficult times that we draw near to God Or are we more prone to seek Him in times of abundance ? But we should seek Him at all times!  Live like there's no tomorrow Laugh when you feel like crying Love like you've never been hurt
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You know the answer to that question. But we should seek Him at all times! I thought about doing an on-line search..Why sheep herders break the legs of wandering woollies. Didn't get around to it. It does sound rather cruel to break an animals leg that stubbornly won't listen and follow. I thought 'why not just tie the front legs together ? - neh..that wouldn't work either. The four legger would just tripod and hop where it wanted to go.' I'm betting that those shepperds even tried putting a rope around the little rebel and walked it like a dog while on field duty. I'm guessing that didn't work. I've come across quite a bit of scripture where God will allow disaster ..hurt..pain.. to take place in order to bring our hearts back to Him. One that stands out ' Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered' Not insinuating that Christ was a wandering sheep but..it was through grief..that He kept His recognition of the Father's heart. That'll go for us also in a whole nother measure..what ever it takes when our souls are at stake. God allows suffering..evil to occur in our lives if it means getting us to have but one choice.. Be with Him. If we who wander don't learn.. The wolves will tear us apart just like the sheep who wander out of the Shepperd's sight. Sometimes little kids need a good smack on the backside to get through to them..for their own good. Sounds mean..but it's a proven winner. (didn't say beating either  ) Better to learn obedience as a child as..measures used against us adults who disobey..get a whole lot harsher.
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Jesus Himself learned obedience through the things that He suffered. Oh sister..if Christ learned that way..I'm certain that we believers are not above that suffering. Not sure why..but some of us of the flock tend to be more willful and need to get broken..that we have but one choice. Learn to stick with the Master or..stubbornly wander out of sight and into the wolves feeding ground. But ya know something..I've yet to come across any saint who's walked with the Lord at any length..who hasn't been broken.. I remember listening to something Chuck Swindoll said over the air..many years ago. A teacher of a young Chuck asked him if he really intended to follow Christ. The young Swindoll proclaimed "yes" with that came the reply of the wise teacher.." Be prepared to get broken..again..and again..and again..and.." Years later..Chuck tearfully understood. This older boy here..grasped that as well.
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You keep drifting away from the Almighty like you do sir bob.. and the Lord for your own good will pull away from you as well. He'll allow you're feet snapped off from under you so you don't become the dinner for darkness. You boast proudly of the ways and works of God with about the sense of a cockroach. The light will turn on and you'll go scurrying back into the darkness where you feel content. Where did I day that it was Jesus the good shepperd doing the breaking of legs ? The correlation is incredibly simple to understand. That is..until the likes of you dive in and pile drive your own limited comprehensive brain matter on the subject of the Lord. You ever tire of bumping your thick noggin on the ceiling bob ? Ever entertain the notion of getting off those long stilts you poke about so high on ? Doubt you will. You're so bound by pride it's a wonder you can still breath.
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Okay y'all...be nice! Live like there's no tomorrow Laugh when you feel like crying Love like you've never been hurt
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Okay y'all...be nice! nice people who are saved don't.
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1/6/2011 12:07 am |
Bob, you said, The suffering of the Shepherd is not felt by the sheep. I believe the scriptures say that we share in Christ sufferings. One of them being that our hearts break for the lost sheep. Here is a scripture, but I will find the one that says we suffer the sufferings of Christ too. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." 2 Timothy 2:12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We must not imagine that we are suffering for Christ, and with Christ, if we are not in Christ. Beloved friend, are you trusting to Jesus only? If not, whatever you may have to mourn over on earth, you are not "suffering with Christ," land have no hope of reigning with Him in heaven. Neither are we to conclude that all a Christian's sufferings are sufferings with Christ, for it is essential that he be called by God to suffer. If we are rash and imprudent, and run into positions for which neither providence nor grace has fitted us, we ought to question whether we are not rather sinning than communing with Jesus. If we let passion take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead of Scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord's battles with the devil's weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must not be surprised. Again, in troubles which come upon us as the result of sin, we must not dream that we are suffering with Christ. When Miriam spoke evil of Moses, and the leprosy polluted her, she was not suffering for God. Moreover, suffering which God accepts must have God's glory as its end. If I suffer that I may earn a name, or win applause, I shall get no other reward than that of the Pharisee. It is requisite also that love to Jesus, and love to His elect, be ever the mainspring of all our patience. We must manifest the Spirit of Christ in meekness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Let us search and see if we truly suffer with Jesus. And if we do thus suffer, what is our "light affliction" compared with reigning with Him? Oh it is so blessed to be in the furnace with Christ, and such an honour to stand in the pillory with Him, that if there were no future reward, we might count ourselves happy in present honour; but when the recompense is so eternal, so infinitely more than we had any right to expect, shall we not take up the cross with alacrity, and go on our way rejoicing? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C.H. Spurgeon. He says it so well. It's a privilege to suffer with Christ, and it is a light affliction as scripture says so many times, compared to the glory we will have with Him. Elizabeth, I cringe myself at this story, and am still thinking about whether it is a picture of how God allows tribulation, suffering etc. for our own good. (God sent evil spirits to Saul, chastises His own, etc) And if He allows it, it is Him allowing it, and so is like Him doing it. He is the one calling the shots. Satan can do nothing without permision, as shown in Job. But like you, it does not seem it would be the Good Shepherd who would break a sheeps leg. I'm still processing this, so bear with me pls.  Blessings   "Love is Patient..."
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1/6/2011 12:19 am |
K Bob, here's the scriptures I said I'd find.... 2Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (This one really says it, we suffer the sufferings of Christ) Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (fellowship of his sufferings) ...k the rest of them.... Ro. 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 2Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. James 5:10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 1Pet 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 1Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 2Cor 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 2Thess 3:2-4 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. James 1:26-27 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. "Love is Patient..."
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1/6/2011 11:10 pm |
Hey Elizabeth sweet lady , not sure ya saw this so here it is again...........Elizabeth, I cringe myself at this story, and am still thinking about whether it is a picture of how God allows tribulation, suffering etc. for our own good. (God sent evil spirits to Saul, chastises His own, etc) And if He allows it, it is Him allowing it, and so is like Him doing it. He is the one calling the shots. Satan can do nothing without permision, as shown in Job. But like you, it does not seem it would be the Good Shepherd who would break a sheeps leg. I'm still processing this, so bear with me pls. Blessings "Love is Patient..."
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Hey Elizabeth sweet lady , not sure ya saw this so here it is again...........Elizabeth, I cringe myself at this story, and am still thinking about whether it is a picture of how God allows tribulation, suffering etc. for our own good. (God sent evil spirits to Saul, chastises His own, etc) And if He allows it, it is Him allowing it, and so is like Him doing it. He is the one calling the shots. Satan can do nothing without permision, as shown in Job. But like you, it does not seem it would be the Good Shepherd who would break a sheeps leg. I'm still processing this, so bear with me pls. BlessingsAnd blessings backatcha' my sweet friend! Live like there's no tomorrow Laugh when you feel like crying Love like you've never been hurt
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