Some of my fondest childhood memories take me to an old farm house in which we lived for awhile, near Clinton, Illinois, USA. The old house sat on a hill overlooking rolling pastures and a long lane. What I loved most were the critters that roamed that old farm. At that time, my dad took care of the animals that belonged to the landlord to help with the rent. But in my mind, the cows, sheep, and one old coughing goat were my special pets. Sometimes, if people didn't know any better, they might have thought that the coughing goat was an intruder because of his human-like cough.

One day, I ventured out to start my day, and headed for the barn, my favourite place to play. I was sure that the stray cat that resided there had had her kittens by then. Before I could reach the old rickety building, I was stopped in my tracks at the most horrible sound that I had ever heard. The sheep that normally meandered mindlessly in the pasture were bellowing as if they were being murdered. Wide-eyed, I watched as one sheared sheep after another was released minus their woolly coat, scared and bloodied from the ordeal.

The thing that saddened me most was their fear and confusion as they didn't know where to go. I wanted to help them, but they were lost in their own fear. They needed a leader! They thrashed about in desperation until they heard a baa that came from the old coughing goat. He became their leader, and feeling that they were safe, they immediately became calm.

The Bible talks of sheep many times in the context of their need of a leader or a shepherd. It is well known that sheep are not too smart, and it is even thought that they have poor eyesight. The Bible says that we have all gone astray, like sheep, and need a shepherd. Sometimes, our eyesight fails us, and we can't see past ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes, we turn to an old coughing goat instead of to the Good Shepherd, Jesus, to lead us.

Many times, not knowing which way to go, I have put my confidence in someone or something unreliable. When I turn to anything other than God's truth, I run after the coughing old goat. Sometimes, I listen to my panicked emotions rather than to the truth found in God's Word. I run amuck, afraid of everything, rather than praying to the Shepherd Who can calm those fears.

If you, dear one, have gone astray and do not know which way to go, remember that the Good Shepherd knows His sheep. He is there to comfort and calm you, to forgive and guide you.

1 Peter 2:25 – For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (NIV)

Prayer: Lord, may we not rely on voices that can lead us astray, like money and power. May the voice of Jesus be the only one that we hear and obey. Help us to listen through the pages of Scripture and in the depths of our prayers. Amen.

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About the author:

Jeanie Nihiser <jnihiserj@gmail.com>
Geneseo, New York, USA
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