During a
demonstration of sheep- herding using a Border Collie, the dog trainer
explained that because sheep are highly vulnerable to wild animals, their main
defense against predators is to stay together in a tightly knit group. “A sheep
alone is a dead sheep,” the trainer said. “The dog always keeps the sheep
together as it moves them.”
The
biblical image of God as our shepherd is a powerful reminder of how much we
need each other in the community of faith. When writing about the exodus of the
Israelites from Egypt, the psalmist said, “[God] made His own people go forth
like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; and He led them on
safely, so that they did not fear” (Ps. 78:52-53).
As part
of God’s flock, we who have trusted Christ are under His guiding, protecting
hand while being surrounded by the shielding presence of others. We are part of
a larger body of believers in which there is safety and accountability.
While we don’t give up our personal responsibility for thought and action as members of the flock, we are to embrace the concept of “we” rather than “me” in our daily lives. With Christ as our Shepherd and fellow believers around us, we find safety in the flock.
As God’s family, we’re protected by Him and by each other. (RBC)
