“As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”
Ezekiel 34:12 KJV
“I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.”
Ezekiel 34:15-17 KJV (The NKJV says “between sheep and sheep”)
Such encouragement from these verses! I love especially the vision of The Shepherd searching for His sheep on the "cloudy and dark day!"
Such promises of comfort for the hurting; the weak; for those who are in need of salvation!
And then the “judgement!”
“but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgmentl”
We often tend to overlook the part of the verses that are uncomfortable! JUDGEMENT!
The separation of the sheep from the goats, and the sheep from the sheep!
Everyone thinks of themselves as sheep! We love The LORD and call on His Name! But do we listen? Follow?
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27 NKJV)
So why the separation of sheep from sheep? What is to separate? We are all part of His flock! Right?
The Shepard's criteria, for sheep suitable for The Temple, is "sheep without spot or blemish" - symbols of sin!
What does He consider sin?
Everyone thinks, murder, adultery, stealing; those are unacceptable in society's eyes! In God's eyes, however, unbelief (fear and worry); gossiping; harboring unforgiveness in your heart; bitterness; resentments; judgements are all "spots and blemishes"; easily put under "The Blood", but for the sin of unrepented pride; the very thing that got lucifer thrown out of heaven!
Confessing our sin to one another (James 5:16), choosing to forgive those who have hurt us (Matthew 6:14-15) and repenting of judgement (Matthew 7:1) puts our sin under "The Blood"! When we are obedient - we will know we have received forgiveness when the pain is gone! That is the promised freedom; Peace!
Sheep willingly follow, and submit to The Shepherd's voice; willingly lay down their will (pride) and are obedient to His Commands!
So, just because we are sheep, doesn't mean we won't be separated!
Humble yourself!
Repent before it’s too late!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 1/5/14
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