If Sheep Could Talk

Good morning,
 
Let's imagine there are two flocks of sheep that meet at the end of winter to compare their experiences.  One flock fat and strong and in good condition, and the other poor and lean and diseased.  If they could talk, would the healthy flock brag about themselves:  "See what great care we have taken of ourselves, what good strong, wise sheep we must be?"  Not hardly.  Wouldn't their boast be in their shepherd?  "See what a good shepherd we have had, and how he has cared for us.  Through all the storms of the winter he has protected us, and has defended us from every wild beast, and has always provided us with the best of food." 
 
How about the poor, wretched, diseased sheep; would they blame themselves and say, "My, what wicked sheep we must be, to be in such a poor condition?"  No they blame their shepherd, "Oh, our shepherd was very different from yours!  He fed himself, but he did not feed us.  He did not strengthen us when we were weak, nor heal us when we were sick, nor bind us up when we were broken nor look for us when we were lost.  It is true he stayed by us in clear and pleasant weather, when no enemies were near, but in times of danger or in storms, he left us.  Oh, that we had had a good shepherd like yours!"
 
It's all about the shepherd!  Sheep cannot take care of themselves, and must depend upon on the good shepherd.  Can you imagine them saying, "We have a good shepherd, who says he will take care of us, but we are unworthy and afraid to trust him.  We are good-for-nothing creatures and dare not enter his fold, nor feed in his pastures; and we are doing the best we can to take care of ourselves/"  No, if sheep could talk, we would never hear them say such a thing. 
 
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want......"   The world is looks on to see what the Lord Jesus Christ is able to make of us, and what kind of sheep we are, whether we are well fed, and healthy, happy, and filled with comfort.  If you enter into this relationship with the Good Shepherd, and really allow yourself to become a helpless, dependent,  trusting sheep, and will believe Him to be your Shepherd, caring for you with all the love, and care, and tenderness that the name involves, you will soon lose all your old spiritual discomfort, and will know His true enter peace and comfort.
 
May the Good Shepherd bless and keep you today, and always remember that you are loved!!!

Henry