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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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Thursday, March
16, 2023
This
kid goat and
lamb are kept
in the same
pen on the Old
Windmill Farm
and have
become good
friends,
always eager
to greet
curious guests
to the farm!
(Can you tell
which is the
goat and which
is the lamb?
Their faces
look alike but
look at the
hair on their
bodies for a
clue.)
"We
All, Like
Sheep, Have
Gone Astray"
Message
summary:
“We
all, like
sheep, have
gone astray”.
Have
you returned
to the
Shepherd and
Overseer of
your soul?
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6). “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
We
were out on
the rural
roads of
Lebanon and
Lancaster
Counties on
Tuesday and
saw lots of
sheep and many
lambs. We'll
share some
photos below
our message
today.Seeing these sheep and lambs reminds us of the many Bible stories and illustrations about sheep. There is much to consider as we look at sheep in relation to the Great Shepherd. The Bible frequently uses the image of a shepherd and sheep to demonstrate man’s relationship with God.
In
fact it begins
as early as
Genesis 49:24
and continues
through the
final book of
Revelation
7:17. Of
course the
most beloved
and comforting
passage using
this metaphor
from the Old
Testament is
Psalm 23, “The
Lord is My
Shepherd”.
In the New
Testament the
most familiar
passage is our
Lord’s words,
“I am the
Good Shepherd”
(John 10:11).
Isaiah,
in the great
chapter
concerning the
Messiah,
bluntly states
our plight as
humans, “We
all, like
sheep, have
gone astray”
(Isaiah 53:6).
Indeed we have
all
gone astray,
for “All
have sinned
and fall short
of the glory
of God”
(Romans 3:23).
Sheep gone astray are sheep now surrounded by danger since they have no ability to protect themselves. They are the first domesticated animal mentioned in the Bible, "Abel was a keeper of sheep" (Genesis 4:2).
Isaiah,
in the great
chapter
concerning the
Messiah,
bluntly states
our plight as
humans, “We
all, like
sheep, have
gone astray”
(Isaiah 53:6).
Indeed we have
all
gone astray,
for “All
have sinned
and fall short
of the glory
of God”
(Romans 3:23).Sheep gone astray are sheep now surrounded by danger since they have no ability to protect themselves. They are the first domesticated animal mentioned in the Bible, "Abel was a keeper of sheep" (Genesis 4:2).
They’re
at the mercy
of other
predatory
animals and
aren’t built
for speed even
if they do
run. They’re
easily lost
with no GPS to
find their way
home.
Poisonous
weeds look
just as
inviting as
green pastures
for grazing.
Much like the
sheep that
face lethal
enemies daily,
we too deal
with an enemy
Peter
describes as
“the devil
[who] prowls
around like a
roaring lion
looking for
someone to
devour” (1
Peter 5:8).
We've
all gone
astray. Peter
reinforces
this, “For
you were like
sheep going
astray, but
now you have
returned to
the Shepherd
and Overseer
of your
souls”. Have
you returned
to the
Shepherd and
Overseer of
your soul?
Although the
Shepherd seeks
the lost
sheep, we have
a free will.
Are you in His
fold of safety
today? If
you’re in His
fold, rejoice;
life’s biggest
problem has
been resolved!
If you have gone astray and away from the sheepfold return to Him. Hear the voice of the Shepherd calling to you, “Come home!” Respond to the beckoning voice of the Great Shepherd today for today is the day of salvation. Any fleshly temptation to indulge in passing pleasure pales in comparison to being under this Shepherd’s steadfast love and care.
We've
all gone
astray. Peter
reinforces
this, “For
you were like
sheep going
astray, but
now you have
returned to
the Shepherd
and Overseer
of your
souls”. Have
you returned
to the
Shepherd and
Overseer of
your soul?
Although the
Shepherd seeks
the lost
sheep, we have
a free will.
Are you in His
fold of safety
today? If
you’re in His
fold, rejoice;
life’s biggest
problem has
been resolved!If you have gone astray and away from the sheepfold return to Him. Hear the voice of the Shepherd calling to you, “Come home!” Respond to the beckoning voice of the Great Shepherd today for today is the day of salvation. Any fleshly temptation to indulge in passing pleasure pales in comparison to being under this Shepherd’s steadfast love and care.
This
morning we
were listening
to WDAC, our
local
Christian
station.
Yesterday they
announced that
police in York
were searching
for a missing
juvenile,
13-year-old
Tyleea Elliot,
last seen in
the area of
Pattison
Street wearing
a red jacket
and blue
jeans. The
update this
morning is
that Tyleea
was found so
the announcer
was rejoicing
and thanking
God that the
missing teen
was home safe.
We rejoice
with the
family as well
and consider
the joy when a
lost one is
found.
Take note of
the word
"Overseer" in
our second
daily text as
well. This is
the only place
in the entire
Bible that the
underlying
Greek word
“episkopos”
("bishop" in
the KJV) is
used in a
description of
God. It means
“one who
watches over
or
superintends”.
That’s
what I need
for my soul
today and so
do you.
For any
straying that
I have done,
whether in the
physical realm
or in the
wanderings of
my soul, I
have returned
to that Great
Shepherd and
Overseer of my
soul and I
never want to
be lost again!
Praise the
Lord!
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, we
thank You for
the great
Shepherd of
the sheep, who
equips us with
everything
good for doing
His will, and
who works in
us what is
pleasing to
Him, through
Jesus Christ
our Lord. Help
us to always
have a heart
to follow the
Great Shepherd
and not wander
in treacherous
territory
where the
roaring lion
seeks to
devour us.
Amen. (See
Hebrews
13:20,21).Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
Nick,
an 80+ year
old friend
commented on yesterday's
message
with this
wisdom: "It
seemingly
takes a
lifetime to
learn how much
time we've
wasted
"chasing after
the wind."
Wish someone
had taught me
this very
early in
life."
"All
We Like Sheep"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Don
Moen
"Psalm 23" Click to listen on YouTube Shane & Shane
"Psalm 23" Click to listen on YouTube Shane & Shane
"The Lord's
My Shepherd"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Stuart Townend
Click
to listen on
Yo
These
sheep were in
a barnyard on
Elizabethtown
Road in
Lebanon
County.
Looks
like this barn
has seen its
better days
but is still
functional! I
rather doubt
that these
sheep compare
their living
quarters with
some of the
sheep who are
housed in
rather
elaborate
barns built in
our area.
Brooksyne
walked toward
the pen and
managed to get
a close-up
before they
scattered. As
you might well
guess once she
gets close
they all jump
to their feet
to check out
the
approaching
stranger.
They're not as
alarmed as
they are
curious.
These
sheep and
lambs are on
Milton Grove
Road,
Lancaster
County. There
were many more
housed within
the doors of
the barn.
Again
Brooksyne's
approach
prompted a
return to the
barn.
They
knew she
wasn't their
shepherd!
These
sheep and
lambs were
grazing on
Hereford Road
in Lancaster
County.
Finally
today:
Our
little
Maltipoos lay
beside me as I
work.
Brooksyne gave
them a good
clipping which
they don't
seem to mind
unlike Sadie
who does (our
Shih tzu/Lhasa
apsa). From
the time they
joined our
household in
November they
have reminded
us of little
lambs. In fact
there is a
specific
Maltipoo lamb
hair cut that
strives to
resemble the
appearance of
a baby sheep,
but when
Brooksyne
clips she has
only one goal:
cut it short
and get the
hair away from
their eyes and
out of their
mouths. Goal
accomplished!
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Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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