What Chance?

Right on time, the ocean bound cruise ship, choc full of happy passengers, cast off from her moorings in the harbour and headed out to the open sea through the estuary. There were 10 glorious days ahead for the pleasure hungry occupants of every cabin and the merriment started right away, and even before they had entered the shipping lanes.

It was a good start for everyone, except Billy. He got a bit merry too fast, leant on the safety rail just a little too hard, and being a very tall specimen there was nothing to stop his headlong fall overboard into the angry waves below. Fortunately Billy’s pals saw what happened and the cry “man overboard” went ringing through the ship and into the captain’s ears. The captain was a man of much experience, and many successful voyages behind him. This was the last thing he needed, and anyway what were the chances of bringing him out alive? Served him right. He should have known better than to get so drunk so early. They had just left port after all and I have another 2,000 well behaved passengers to think about. So, weighing it all up the Captain decided to just keep on sailing. What? Of course he didn’t. What a crazy idea, after all every life counts, no matter the state they get into.

Happily, the captain turns the mighty liner around and lifeboats deployed. Before too long Billy was found clinging on to nothing but dear life. He thanks the crew of the lifeboat for pulling him to safety, he thanks the staff waiting to get him inside to dry off. He thanks the doctor for making sure he was ok. He even makes his way to the bridge and personally thanks the captain, but although he doesn’t know any of them, he is grateful for life. His life. Then to top it all off, the captain and crew arrange a special feast to celebrate being able to save Billy.

So it is with you and Jesus. When you stray away from the fold, He will do everything in His power to get you back. Once He finds you cold and tired, He lifts you onto His shoulders and carries you to safety inside the sheepfold where you belong. The load becomes His, not yours. It will come as no surprise that there is much rejoicing in heaven on the return of every single sinner who returns. In the words of the old gospel song, “Oh what a Saviour!”

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’                Luke 14:6 ESV

The Journey - Sheep and Lambs

It is a pleasant sight when you are on a hill, and into plain view comes a small flock of grazing sheep with their playful and carefree lambs gambolling beside their mother with not a care in the world. Sheep are not the wisest animals, and you could say they are stupid. They get lost easily if the fence has a gap. They get into danger when they stray beyond safe limits. They are easy prey to wild dogs, and humans with slaughter on their minds. Left to their own devices, sheep and lambs will wander in complete trust of their safety, and without knowing where they are going or if great danger is lurking nearby. They don’t know who to trust, or who will look after them.

Their safety is provided by the care and welfare of the shepherd. Their shepherd. The relationship is special and unique, so much so that in some eastern countries the shepherd will lead their flock, instead of driving them from behind with a dog. The comparison of the leading Shepherd of the sheep, to the local Pastor in your church is as obvious as it is important, after all it is no coincidence that the root meaning of the word ‘Pastor’ is ‘Shepherd’.

When we read the old favourite Psalm 23 in this light, we find that:

> The sheep and lambs are never in need while their Pastor is leading.

> The Pastor always takes his flock where the feeding is good.

> The Pastor always keeps his lambs on the safe paths, no matter how dark.

> The Pastor will not hesitate to protect his flock against any animal that could do harm.

> The Good Shepherd shows the end of our earthly journey, where we are loved, anointed, given an overflowing cup, seated at a well prepared table where we will be for eternity.

Are all earthly Shepherds good? Sadly no, but we are warned about them so that we, His sheep and lambs, could recognise the ones that would harm us. Jesus forewarned and forearmed his disciples with these words in Matthew 7:15: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” The message is clear. Bad shepherds are dressed up to look like the good ones, but their hearts are deceptively cruel. The worst thing for my part, is that they know what they are doing. Deep down, they know fully. That’s why Jesus warned the disciples then, and He warns us again today, so that we can tell the difference and only follow the Good Shepherd. We must take care as we choose, after all Jesus tells us that the false shepherd will look and sound convincing. Don’t we love the Psalm beginning, “The Lord is MY Shepherd?” That says it all!

The Journey - Walking Group

A good way to walk or climb is to do it as a group. That way you get physical, emotional, and moral support from others who may be just like you, fit and healthy, and with a good positive outlook that you will make it to the destination safely. In a strange way when groups walk together, it has been shown that everybody feels less tired than if they had made the same climb alone! That is even more significant and true for those who are not seasoned walkers.

In a group walk there is always a leader. Someone who has been this way before you and is prepared to take a pace that suits even the slowest walker. This leader will know each person, their strengths and weaknesses, both physically and emotionally. Are they all up to the task?

In our faith walk, it is not difficult to see the parallels of the church and its pastor. I am also reminded of the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd’s voice is known to the sheep, and more importantly, the shepherd KNOWS his sheep, even by name. I get the image of some sheep gathered in small groups, and even in a certain part of the sheepfold. The shepherd knows where each sheep is. It is important to understand that he also knew there were 100, and one was lost. How else would he know that one had strayed except he knew the total number in his care?

If we accept the role of the pastor as a shepherd (after all, that is the meaning of the word) he will know each and every person in his care. He will know their names, who they associate with, and where they live, or am I taking the analogy too far? However, there can be no doubt that the role of the leader/shepherd/pastor is crucial to group success in reaching their goal.

For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them. Matthew 18:20

We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. Hebrews 10:25

Tended Sheep

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness…. Psalm 23:1-3

We are all familiar with the parable of the lost sheep where the shepherd searched diligently for the one lost sheep. Over the years I have come to think we miss something about the shepherd. Yes, he searches out the lost, but does he stand idly by twiddling his thumbs, waiting for one of those stupid sheep to get lost? NO!!

The familiar Psalm 23 which we all love holds some vital clues about the ‘Good Shepherd’. His time is mostly spent looking after the sheep he has in the fold. The ones which are not lost. He values them. Read the verses over again, because this is not a Shepherd who idly waits for one to go missing. He is actively making sure each one feels worth His attention, and valued. He IS the shepherd after all, so would we expect any less?

Church leaders and pastors, by definition are ‘shepherds’, and as such have a responsibility to tend (I love that word of caring) the sheep which are faithful and remain within the fold. While we remember the one that strayed, keep in mind the other ninety-nine which were secure in the pen. So, where is the bulk of the shepherd’s time spent, if not on the ones which already are safe? It is down to the tending of the Good Shepherd that more are not lost, and similarly it is the driving force and heart of our earthly Pastors who help the sheep that need his attention. So, what else is in the Good Shepherd’s mind? Nothing! Just the wellbeing of the sheep that already are His.

There are too many ways to mention where a Pastor can help his flock, but they all come down to one characteristic. Like the Good Shepherd, he must care for all his flock, to the exclusion of all else.

Lost

She was 8 years old, pretty as a picture, the apple of her mum and dad’s eye, and she was lost. Panic had already set in when meal time arrived and she wasn’t in the back garden where they had last seen her, when they told her to play until dinner was ready. It wasn’t a long time, but she was gone and a search party was organised quickly. They lived on an estate which opened out to a large open field and wooded area to the rear of the property. No one wanted to say what they were thinking, or dreading.

After a short time which felt like an eternity, the lost was found, curled up under a small bush fast asleep. Unharmed and unafraid. Before daddy could sweep her up into his safe arms, he noticed that the fingers of one hand were wrapped tightly round the fourth finger of her other hand. In no time, Betsy was home, having dinner, none the worse for her ordeal. In fact she was the only one who wasn’t worried.

When it was time for bed, mum took her little girl upstairs and after reading a story, asked why she had been clutching her finger so tightly. With a big smile, Betsy told how she had listened to her Sunday School teacher the week before who told them how to remember the first part of Psalm 23. Pointing to each finger in turn, she recited, “The-Lord-is-MY-Shepherd” and when she had strayed from home and got worried, she clutched the fourth finger that said ‘MY’ and the fear left. So from a little girl we are reminded of the lesson in Psalm 23:1 we all need to hear. “The Lord is MY shepherd”. Mine. It is personal. Jesus is mine, and let’s never forget it! Amen.