I'll do it, but I'll do it my way!

Last week, provided a few lovely days, to spend time outside, and enjoy some lovely autumnal sunshine. I don’t know about you, but I find a wet autumn really difficult, and, not being able to get outside, has a huge affect on me, mentally. Last week however, I was able to get out in the sun, and enjoy some long walks in the countryside.

On one of the days, myself and my friend Ruth, went for a walk, heading out of Ochiltree, towards a local farm, that offers take-away hot drinks. We thought it would be nice to get out for a blether, some fresh air, and well, coffee is just always an added bonus!

As we walked along the road, we couldn't help but notice a field, on the hill next to us, full of sheep. As we walked along, we watched the sheep, clamber through the wire fence, separating

that field from the field next to it. One by one, they squeezed through the gaps in the wire, then ran off into the other field. As we watched, in surprise at their great escape, we couldn’t help but notice, right at the bottom of the hill, at the end of the dividing fence, was a gate, lying wide open. The sheep were in fact supposed to be in both fields, as the gate was fixed open to let them in and out. However, not one sheep was using the open gate, instead they went through the fence!

As I watched the sheep, I couldn't help but think ‘how stupid’! I always remember my brother in law, David, who is a farmer, saying out of all the animals he kept on a farm, he disliked sheep the most because of their stupidity! I remember hearing a story once, of a sheep trapped at the edge of a raging river. As the farmer went to rescue the sheep, it took one look at the farmer and jumped into the river to its death!

As I have been thinking about those sheep, I can’t help but think about how the bible compares us to sheep.

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s path to follow our own.” Isaiah 53:6

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

As I watched these sheep run around doing their own thing, I was reminded of how often we are the same. Wandering around in our lives, doing our own things, lost without someone to guide us.

God says, we have wandered off from Him, and His way. We are blind to the danger that sin is to us, and we choose paths that appeal to us and that we think would be best for us. Oftentimes, it isn’t until crisis is brought into our lives, that we turn to God, and cry out for help.

God's plan is for us to live a life free from the chains of sin, where he leads us and guides us, the way a shepherd leads his sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Just as the bible describes us as sheep, it also describes Jesus as the good shepherd. He came from heaven to this earth, because he loved us. He no longer wanted us to wander around like lost sheep, but that he might lead us to himself. He laid down his life as a sacrifice, for all of our sin, so that we might be saved from that lost life.

As I saw those sheep, make their own way through the fence into the next field, I thought of the same attitude that is often found in our hearts. That stubbornness, that makes us determined to do things our own way. That attitude, where we don’t need anyone else to guide us, or tell us what to do. How often do I do something that I’ve been asked to do, but inside I’m saying ‘fine, but I’ll be doing it my way!’

A year or so ago, one morning, the kids were getting ready for school. It was really raining heavily, as some of the kids got ready to leave for the school bus, I noticed my son only had his blazer on and no jacket. Much to his annoyance, I talked him into wearing his jacket over his blazer, if I hadn’t then he would have been soaked to the skin, when he arrived at school. But as he left the house he muttered back to me ‘fine, I’ll wear my jacket, but I won’t be putting my hood up!’

Even as children we show this same attitude, I’ll obey you but I’ll do it my way.

There is a famous story in the bible regarding a man called King Saul. He was the first King of Israel, chosen by God. God gave him specific instructions time and again, yet Saul repeatedly disobeyed God by doing it his way. He couldn’t see his fault, because in his eyes, he argued that he had done what God had asked. The problem was, it was in HIS eyes he saw it, not Gods.

How often do I see that God is wanting me to obey Him, whether it be by doing something for him, or going the way he is leading me, and I do it, but inside I’m saying “fine, but I’ll do it my way.’ Like King Saul, I’m only interested in how things look to me and I forget to consider that God sees the whole picture, He also sees my motives and attitude.

The reality is, God doesn’t want me to have this attitude. It doesn’t please him and even though I might be doing good, he won't bless that stubborn heart of mine. Instead God wants me to surrender and soften my heart, like a sheep just content in following its shepherd through life's journey, trusting that he knows the best paths for me.

So let's remember, don't be like the sheep, scrambling through the fence, when the gate has been left wide open.