Are you a sheep or a goat?

Sheep are boring and a bit simple-minded. Not an animal we would compare ourselves to in order to impress our new boss or a date. If we wanted to emphasise our diligence or our strength, we might describe ourselves as a bee or a lion. Perhaps the word "GOAT" comes to mind, as an abbreviation for "greatest of all time". We don't want to be just anyone, we want to be a person who stands out, who is special and who will be remembered by people.

So we want to be "goats", but Jesus speaks of goats to describe behaviour that harms us. Because goats are convinced that they know what is best for them and act accordingly. Jesus wants us to put our pride aside and accept our role as his sheep. Because sheep allow themselves to be led by their shepherd. They may not recognise when they go astray, but they let their shepherd lead them back on the right path.

Do you trust that Jesus means well when he speaks to you? Or do you persist in your role as a goat and question what you have heard? Do you think you know better or do you deliberately ignore it when Jesus asks you to do something that doesn't fit in with your own wishes? A sheep knows that it can trust its shepherd because he has its best interests at heart. We, on the other hand, often act as if Jesus is a trickster who pursues his own advantage as soon as we do what he says.

So why is it good news that Jesus sees us as sheep? Because it means that we have the best shepherd by our side. A shepherd who knows the way to the next pasture, a shepherd who leads us to new, better feeding grounds, a shepherd who carries us when we are exhausted and a shepherd who stands protectively in front of us when we are in danger. Being a sheep may not sound particularly appealing. But having Jesus as a shepherd in your life is better than winning the lottery. It is the greatest possible gift.

Next Step: In which areas of your life are you behaving more like a goat than a sheep? Are you ready to trust Jesus' voice in this area and let him guide you? Write down why you find it difficult to obey Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to show you his view of the situation.