i love pictures of the Good Shepherd and the story of the Good Sheperd, sinful that i am, it makes me feel that God loves me still, is all merciful, is so loving, that even if i stray, He will not leave me as i am.
So when ive read this i was touched..and told myself i needed to share this, not just because we need discipline but when we think we suffer and when God disciplines us, we shouldnt rebel nor be angry with God but instead .. to pause ,to be still and learn from the Shepherd Himself, i call it special loving time with Jesus ..
A Foreigner traveling in Syria who became acquainted with a shepherd. Each morning noticed the shepherd giving food to a sheep with a broken leg. As he looked at the animal, he asked the shepherd, "How did the sheep break its leg? Did it meet with an accident? did it fell into a hole? or did some animal attack its leg?"
"No," said the shepherd, "I broke this sheep's leg myself."
"You broke it yourself?! " queried the very surprised traveler.
"He lovingly smiled and said, Yes i did, you see, this is a wayward sheep; it is stubborn and would not stay with the flock, and if i leave it on its own would eventually lead other sheep astray.
Also it would not let me near it so I had decided to break its leg so that it would allow me, day by day to feed it.
In doing this it will get to know me as its shepherd, trust me as its guide, and keep with the flock." Sometimes, just sometimes, when we insist of going our own stubborn way and may lead others astray, the Good and all loving Shepherd, may lovingly need to discipline us .. not because He does not love us BUT because HE LOVES US VERY MUCH!
HEBREWS 12
{12:5} And you have forgotten the consolation which speaks to you like sons, saying: “My son, do not be willing to neglect the discipline of the Lord. Neither should you become weary, while being rebuked by him.”
{12:6} For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges.
{12:7} Persevere in discipline. God presents you to Himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct?
{12:11} Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it.
