October 15, 2019 Spirit Meat Daily Devotional : Topic – CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE SHEEP (2) – EZEKIEL 34:1-24

October 15, 2019 Spirit Meat Daily Devotional : Topic – CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE SHEEP (2) – EZEKIEL 34:1-24

(d)The sheep produce sheep: Anyone who is a member of the sheepfold that has no record of adding a person to church is not a true sheep. Such a sheep is not committed to the Church and is only interested in taking from the Church. While the shepherd feeds the sheep with what it needs to grow, the sheep is expected to birth forth other sheep. Not bringing more sheep to the sheepfold is the fastest way to kill the fold.

(e) Sheep love to be sheared: There is a difference between shearing and fleecing. If the shepherd does not lovingly shear the wool on a sheep, the sheep becomes hooked whenever he goes around in the bush as the wool becomes what twigs and leeches can latch onto to make the sheep unable to move or even make the sheep sick. Fleecing happens when a robber steals from the sheep. Shearing means to be blessed and to contribute to the Kingdom; it is enjoyable. If your church, the sheepfold, is doing something that is going to bless everybody, you should enjoy the fact that you are asked to contribute to it. Shearing is giving offering, tithing, partnership, getting involved in helping the less-privileged in the assembly. By the blessing of God, believers grow financially, but then you must answer the question of who places the greatest demand on your wool: God, man, or things?

(f) They follow leader-sheep: One of the greatest traits of sheep is that they know their leader and follow him. They not only follow, but they follow to imitate him. In the sheepfold which is what the Church setting represents, God wants the shepherd in charge there to represent the standard that the sheep would pursue. While Jesus is the ideal, He gives you a standard to encourage you.

PRAYER: Dear father, thank you for opening my eyes to the truth in your word! Help me to work in love, understanding and obedience to the shepherd you’ve given me. Amen!