“27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Who wants to be a sheep? Not the smartest, dingleberries, helpless, defenseless, are words used to describe sheep. With that said, let’s put us in the context of how God might look at us. I know I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life, I’ve left a trail of hurt and wreckage behind me. God is probably saying “that was stupid, um, hello, there’s a better way!”. I think in the context of God, I qualify as stupid. Where do you rank?

Skipping dingleberries, how about helpless and defenseless? Left to my own devices I make decisions that leave me in bad places. Have you ever said a foxhole prayer? Something along the lines of “God, just get me out of this and I promise…”.  He does and then we don’t. Helpless is crying out for help when it all looks hopeless. How many times during the days will you look around and feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, trying to defend yourself against the onslaught of everyday life? Does that feel like empowerment? It doesn’t for me. Again, in the context of God, it’s being pretty helpless and defenseless.

I am a sheep whether I want to admit it or not. The question then is do I want to follow the Good Shepherd or a leaderless herd of some other sheeps and their dingleberries?

Re-read the scripture.  No one can snatch us out of His hand. How cool is that?

I strive to be part of the flock, not the herd. I crave eternal life in the security of the Lord. I rest in the comfort of knowing I’m in really, really, really good hands – the best hands – where I am loved, where I am safe.

How about you?