This precious cow runs the fastest to me, and moos for attention.
We have two cows in our pasture. When we first received them, they were skittish of anyone who entered, and you could tell they were cautiously sizing any intruder up.
Over time, I would go out and feed the cows. On my way to greet them, I’d holler out, “Hey, cows”. (I know…such original names.) The relationship grew over time. The cows would begin to associate me with food. Now when I walk out to the pasture, sometimes before I even call out, “Heeyy, coowws”, they see me and come running.
Today, I was out in the barn. I guess one of the cattle noticed me working in there, came to the gate, and began mooing in my direction. I had to laugh. No “hey, cows” was mentioned, now they just want to spend time with me. Okay, okay…they really want me to feed them, but I like thinking that they just want me to talk to them.
This scenario reminds me of “The Good Shepherd and His sheep” parable.
In Isaiah 40:11, we read the illustration of the foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young.”
That’s exactly what Christ does, He tends to us, gathers us in His arms, holds us close to His heart, and gently leads us in the right direction.
In John 10, we hear the parable of The Good Shepherd and His Sheep. Verse 11 Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd, and that He gives His life for us, His sheep. He did! He died for you and me! In verse 14, Christ confirms that He cares for us.
“I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep… I am the shepherd who cares for the sheep. I know my sheep just as the Father knows me. And my sheep know me just as I know the Father. I give my life for these sheep.”John 10:11, 14-15
Much like those cows began associating me with food, and we’ve now built a relationship with one another, that’s how your relationship with Christ can be. Jesus is The Bread of Life. We need Him daily. The more time you spend feeding on His Word, the more intimate your relationship becomes, and you discover that you desire to spend time with Him. You’ll not wait on Him to call out your name, you’ll go running to Him and moo, I mean call out, to Him.
Are you lost or wondering? Remember Luke 15:3-7:
Then Jesus told them this story: 4 “Suppose one of you has 100 sheep, but one of them gets lost. What will you do? You will leave the other 99 sheep there in the field and go out and look for the lost sheep. You will continue to search for it until you find it. 5 And when you find it, you will be very happy. You will carry it 6 home, go to your friends and neighbors and say to them, ‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep!’ 7 In the same way, I tell you, heaven is a happy place when one sinner decides to change. There is more joy for that one sinner than for 99 good people who don’t need to change.
Jesus wants you! You are His delight! Come back to Him.
I pray that you will work on building your relationship with Jesus.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Here they come!