I get it…I really do…why Jesus called us “sheep” and referred to himself as the “Good Shepherd!”
We are absolutely helpless without the Shepherd. As humans/sheep we get this crazy idea and our actions validate it. We think God doesn’t know. He doesn’t see. And the real ridiculous thought, which leads to actions, is that somehow we are in control and can control outcomes and others. In case you didn’t know it, sheep are not that smart.
As I mature and grow in my walk with Christ, I look back over my life and I see a sheep in great need of a Shepherd. Often, at the very start of my day, I remind myself …
We are never hidden from God!
I pray the same prayer David prayed in Psalm 86:11-13, “Teach me YOUR way Lord, that I may RELY on YOUR FAITHFULNESS; give me an UNDIVIDED HEART, that I may FEAR your name. I will praise you, Lord my God with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever, For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead” [emphasis mine].
Nope, not one second of any day does God NOT SEE….Proverbs 5:21, “For your ways are in full view of the Lord and HE examines all your paths.”
Not only are we not hidden physically from God but neither are our thoughts…Matthew 9:4, “But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, ‘Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?’” And Luke 9:47, “And Jesus, perceiving the thoughts of their heart…..” In Psalms 44:21 we find, “Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.”
What about the woman at the well? After her encounter with Jesus, she ran into town and said, ”Come, see the man who told me everything I ever did….” (John 4:29).
How about Adam and Eve in the garden? If you have read the story, you know God asked them where they were. He really knew…and not only did HE know where they were…HE knew what they had done.
Readers, how in the world do we deceive ourselves into thinking God doesn’t see? HE does. NOTHING is hidden from His sight!!!
I love this…it is very convicting and comforting to me. It does two things for me……
First, it truly helps me SURRENDER my ways/my thoughts…to His will and His thoughts. Note here: I am not at all perfect and fall short of glory but I can honestly write these words: on a daily basis, knowing that God does know and see my heart, I am working diligently and daily on this very thing…a continual surrender and obedience. NO matter what it looks like or what it costs me.
Let me just stop and say…there is a price….dying to self. It can be painful but yet exhilarating all at the same time…because at this point and at this point only do I believe you can see, feel and experience the supernatural hand of God in your life.
Second, it brings me great amazing comfort and confidence!
I have gained much ground in being a “recovering people pleaser.” Standing on the scripture found in Galatians 1:10, “For I am seeking the approval or man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Breaking this down for you: if your eyes are on God, He will not tell you to do wrong. He won’t. But often what God tell us to do will rub men/women or both wrong. If we are following Christ with all our heart, often, very often we will be met with disapproval. For me, when this happens, I know I have heard from God. As we have already seen in scripture, HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS.
I feel the push back…sometimes anger…disapproval…hurtful words…or exclusion (passive aggressiveness) from men/women. I take great comfort in Luke 8:17, “For there is nothing that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” God is light and darkness hates the light. All battles we face are spiritual ones. We might be tempted to look upon it as battling humans…but in reality we are battling the true enemy. Psalm 84:11-12, ”For the Lord God is a SUN and a SHEILD; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”
Today I encourage you with this…start each and every day telling yourself out loud…there is nothing that you think or do that is hidden from God! Then tell yourself how much He loves you and others…even the people you find it the hardest to love. Ask Him to give you an UNDIVIDED HEART. Accept that you are a sheep in need of a Shepherd.
Get to know His voice. “The gatekeeper 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” (John 10:3-5).
READ HIS WORD and FOLLOW IT. You may stumble but you will not fall! Psalm 94:18, “When I said, “My foot is slipping, your unfailing love, Lord supported me.”
Sheep may not be very smart but we have a GOOD Shepherd who takes very good care of His sheep. He sees. He hears. He knows therefore we can rest under His watch.