Faith-bearing Seed for the Soul
"While the earth remaineth,
Seedtime and harvest
....shall not cease"

Genesis 8:22

Mutton or Lambchops?

Have you ever watched a flock of sheep? The little lambs follow the sheep, usually their mothers who feed them, but the mature sheep will only follow the shepherd...

As a young Christian I thought that any good work that I found to do, that God would help me do it and bless my efforts. I thought this was the way it worked. And, He did bless my efforts, but much in the same way a parent encourages a small child with praise and applause, for the efforts they put forth. As I developed some maturity in the Lord, He began to show me His PERFECT PLAN. He led me to this verse...

John 12:26 NIV

Whoever serves me must follow me; and WHERE I AM, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (Emphasis mine)

He clearly emphasized that to be His servant, I must be WHERE HE WAS, doing what HE wanted done, not being where I wanted to be, doing what I wanted to do.

I've always been one to run out ahead of God. One day, in a vision, I saw myself walking down a path beside the Lord. All of sudden He gently pushed me behind Himself. There was a stone on the path. He turned it over and a serpent rose up in an attempt to strike. He put His hand out and the serpent dropped dead. From that, I realized the dangers of running out ahead of the Lord.

As we grow from lambhood into a sheep, like Peter, we have to realize that as a youngster we could do much as we pleased, but maturity in Christ dictates that "Another" will direct us and take us where we often do not want to go. (John 21:18)

Sheep listen to the voice of their Shepherd and follow only Him.

John 10:3-5 NIV

The watchman 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. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.

Sometimes we need to stop and evaluate our growth, or lack of growth, as the case may be. Are we still a "little lamb"...or are we maturing into the obedient sheep, who are where He is, doing what He wants done, not impatiently running out ahead of Him, and listening to His voice of direction and instruction?

Se'lah...just pause and think about that!

Planted and rooted in Him,

Marlene,

Seed for Thought Devotionals are written as the Lord leads and are sent only if you request a subscription by e-mail.  

Would you like to subscribe to the TexasSower Devotional?  e-mail texassower@texassower.com and put "subscribe" in the subject line.

"Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know

which will grow--perhaps it all will."

Eccl. 11:6

return to the TexasSower home page

.

You are cordially invited to visit the   page for additonal inspiration readings and prayer..