I am reminded of an American tourist who was traveling in the Mid East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had intermingled while drinking water from a brook. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him.
Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah. Manah." and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The traveler then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me."
The shepherd smiled knowingly as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah. Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger's voice. Not one of them moved toward him. "A stranger will they not follow." "Will the sheep ever follow someone other than you?" The traveler asked. "Oh yes," the shepherd replied, "sometimes a sheep gets sick, and then it will follow anyone."
We have seen it, haven't we? Sheep, young and old, who are "sick." Leaving their first love and polluted by loving the world and the things of the world. Infected with the sins of the flesh. Wandering in the wilderness. Even murmuring at God like Israel did, with no appetite for the Word of God, (the Manna) and the things of God.
But the Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. He suffered and died for their sins, paid their debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds. "The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly." Who are you following today?
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Father
I ask that you would set a flame of fire in each heart, and that flame would be unquenchable in its ability to destroy lies, broken dreams and promises, and rejection. I ask that in place of those things will come a pure love, that only You can place in our hearts, and a purification in our entire lives that will leave us with the single purpose in life, of pleasing You and seeking You, and establishing the kind of relationship with You that You have designed us to have. Let this fire destroy anything else that prevents this from happening. I ask these in Jesus name,
Amen and Amen
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