1 DECEMBER

 

Sheep

“We are the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:3)

Did you know sheep can sing?

Well, they can!

Psalm 100 – often referred to affectionately as the “Old One Hundredth” - has been a favourite song sung loudly and happily by sheep for thousands of years.

Why?

Because the person they are singing about is God and the sheep are us!

I admit, to be called a “sheep” is not terribly flattering. Sheep are without doubt the stupidest animals on the planet, blindly following each other when a few at the front suddenly dart off in a different direction. (Ask any sheepdog and he will confirm this for you!) Even worse, if a sheep wanders off on its own, it exposes itself to great danger because it’s totally defenceless. Isolated and alone, it becomes panic stricken, paralysed with fear, completely at the mercy of predators such as lions, eagles, and wolves – even a pet dog!

But when we stop and think about ourselves, we realise that to be called sheep is a very accurate description. We follow the latest ideas about making our lives more meaningful without thinking them through, resulting in feelings of frustration and emptiness – but we don’t follow God.

Many of us live in loneliness and despair, longing to be loved for who we are – but we ignore the love of the One Who made us.

This Advent – as one sheep to another – I am inviting you to discover with me the amazing Songs of Christmas found in the Bible.

When Mary learned she was to be the mother of the Saviour of the world, she sang, “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!” (Luke 1:47)

The coming of Jesus into the world was a momentous event and people – “sheep” – have been singing about it ever since.

This Christmas, discover why you can sing for joy about the coming of Jesus and let Him put a song into your heart again!

Read: Psalm 100. Talk about: your favourite Christmas Carol. Laugh together: Why were the sheep annoyed on the first Christmas Eve? (Because the shepherds kept washing their socks by night!)