For a short period of time, my husband and I had a couple sheep with our few goats.  To say it was a learning experience would be an understatement.  We got schooled!  Goats and sheep are vastly different even though they appear similar.  For example, sheep refuse to go through a gate while being herded from behind.  With goats, a person can stretch their arms wide, and with little or no coaching, direct the herd through a gate.  The goats scuttle away from the person and into the pen.

At first, it appears very promising if one tries this with sheep.  The sheep meander in the way they are directed, but as soon as they reach the gate, they make a 90° turn and run off.  You can actually see the sheep get flustered, almost worried, as they approach the gate.  Then, at the very last moment they panic and run.  It is incredibly frustrating.  The sheep had me convinced there was a force field at the gate opening.

The way to get sheep through a gate is actually rather simple.  Well, it’s simple for the shepherd. The shepherd only needs to walk through the gate, calling for the sheep to follow.  The sheep follow their shepherd, even through a gate.

Throughout the Bible people are referred to as sheep.  This caused me to wonder about people.  Do we have any similarities with sheep and their fear of gates?  What would represent a gate for people?  I thought about this for a while. 

Gates are a different kind of door.  Often times, people refer to doors as a symbol representing a new opportunity or situation.  It’s an entrance into another area.  It is exiting the known.  In our current room or situation, we can see and understand that which is around us.  We can’t see or ascertain what is in a new room.  The unknown is scary!  It causes us to become flustered, worried, and may cause us to panic and run.

Reluctantly, I must confess.  I am more like a sheep than I would like to admit.  Thank God, He knows this!  He doesn’t shove us through doors, forcing His way.  What did He do?  He sent us Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  Jesus goes before us, leading the way.  He calls to us and beckons us to follow.  In fact, Jesus says in John 10:3-4:

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Why do the sheep follow?  It’s because they know His voice.  They have experienced and learned that this is the one who takes care of me.  This is one I trust.  It’s a relationship that is developed over time.

Last week we talked about imitating.  Well, one can’t imitate unless somebody else does something first.  We have the ability to imitate our Lord because Jesus set an example.  He went first.  We have all heard, “Jesus died for you.”  Yes, it’s true!  But just as importantly we need to remember: Jesus lived for you!  He has gone before us and experienced trials, joy, temptations, rejection, victory, and heartache.  Yes, even death and resurrection.  It’s because He went first that we have hope.

There are some reading this who are being called to walk through a gate into a new opportunity or situation.  You are being called into an unknown place.  This will happen to all of us at some point in time.  It can be scary.  Remember dear child, He is already on the other side.  He’s calling your name.  He is waiting for you in the unknown.  Do not be afraid.

He’s already there.

Verses to ponder this week:
Exodus 13:21-22; 15:13
Psalm 68:4-10
Hebrews 4:14-16
Colossians 1:13-20
1 Corinthians 15:12-22

If you would like to read more about our adventures with sheep, check out the post from December 24: “Dumb Sheep and Helpless Babe”