The Good Shepherd

During the week, Calum had an extra day off work as he had a few hours of annual leave that he needed to use up. We decided now that the primary kids were back at school, we would go for a longer walk than usual. As much as we do enjoy a family walk, there is always one child that is bored, hungry, tired or cold!!

The previous week, my friend and I, had discovered a long walk to some falls, up the Glenmuir water, not too far away from where we live. Calum decided he wanted to try this walk too, and we even managed to persuade our three teenagers to join us as well!!

After many moans, sighs and grumblings, at having to be ready to leave at 9:30am, 🙈 we set off on our 10 mile expedition. The bribery of a take-away was enough to keep them pleasant!! For the most part, the walk is mainly desolate moorland. Not too much to see, except for the local sheep, frogs and an excess of frog spawn!! (much to my excitement and absolutely no-one else's!!)

There aren't many trees along the way, so even the sound of the birds were few and far between.

However, along the path, every mile or so there was an old stone walled sheep pen. Some lay in ruins with only a glimmer of what they once were. Others were still whole, despite their remoteness. Apparently, these are known as a fank. At the very start of the walk, a fancy new sheep pen had been made with new timber and strong wire for the farmers to use, a stark contrast to the old moss covered stone rings that lie along the hillside.

On both occasions that I went the walk, I couldn’t help but picture the shepherd, hundreds of years ago, out on the hillsides, with his sheep. Oftentimes, growing up in church, I’d heard the story of how the Eastern shepherd would herd his sheep into the pen for safety, and then he would lie down and sleep in the doorway of the pen, to protect them from any danger.

In the bible, in John chapter 10, Jesus describes himself as the shepherd.

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

The bible likens us to sheep, and Jesus is the shepherd who has come to lead, guide and ultimately save us.

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

Like the sheep wandering around the countryside, we to are like sheep, wandering through life without a shepherd. It is not God's intention to leave us to our own ways, so He sent Jesus into this world to be our guide and shepherd, to show us the way of life. As a christian, I know Jesus as my shepherd. There is great sense of comfort and peace, in having a shepherd to lead and guide me. Some of the most famous verses in the bible, which speak of the shepherd, are found in Psalm 23. The Lord is my Shepherd. These verses describe what it is like as christian following Jesus. They are the simplest way, for anyone to understand what it is like, knowing Jesus as the shepherd of your life.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."

Not only did Jesus say that he was the shepherd, he also said he was like the gate into the sheep pen. If anyone wants into the sheep pen, they have to go through the gate. To become a christian we must enter through the gate, which is to enter by Jesus himself.

"yes I am the gate. Those who come through me will be saved." John 10:9

"Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." John 14:6

On our way back to the car, 'leg wearied' and ready to put our feet up, we watched in wonder as the farmer, supported by his dogs, herded a field of sheep into their pen. As they all huddled together in a corner, ready to enter the new modern sheep pen, one sheep ran off on it's own, across the field, and away from the rest. The farmer shot off in pursuit, on his quad bike, dogs racing behind him, seeking to get ahead of the lone sheep, so they could turn it around and bring it back to the rest. After a few minutes, they eventually managed to bring the sheep back to the fold, and into the safety of the pen.

The bible tells the story of a shepherd, who had 100 sheep. One day, he discovered that 1 of his sheep was missing. He left his 99 sheep and went off in search of his missing sheep. When he found it, he placed it on his shoulders and carried it home. Once home, he called on his friends and neighbours to come and help him celebrate, that he had found his lost sheep. The shepherd wasn't content with having 99 of his sheep safely in the fold. He went out of his way to find the lost 1 and bring it back. Jesus is like this shepherd, he will go out of his way to find the lost sheep and bring them to himself. He doesn't want anyone to be like a sheep without a shepherd.

It doesn't matter where we are in life. Whether we think we are like the sheep all huddled together, not seeming to need the help of the shepherd, or perhaps like the sheep all on it's own, lost and in need of rescuing, Jesus loves you and wants to bring you into his family, into the fold.

Unlike the farmer we saw on our walk, impatient and frustrated, using his barking dogs to bring the lone sheep back. Jesus is patient, loving and tender-hearted as he seeks out those who are lost and calls them back to himself. He really is the Good Shepherd!