Our name, “LiveFully,” comes from John 10:10. When you look at that Bible verse in context, you quickly realize that Jesus identifies himself as a shepherd, and we are his sheep.
Some sheep try to act like people too…
There are several ways that we are similar to sheep, but the video below is my new favorites. My wife, Morgan, teaches at a rural New Zealand school. They recently hosted Pet’s Day, and students brought their cats, dogs, chickens, cows, horses, and of course, sheep.
The highlight of her day was lamb calling, in which the children call their sheep by name. The sheep, who are being held by the parents, are then supposed to run to the kids. Students even have milk bottles waiting at the finish line, in order to help encourage the sheep to reach the prize. The first sheep to cross the finish line wins!
Here is what happened (be prepared, it’s hilarious):
This is such a perfect analogy for our relationship with God. In John 10:3 we read this about Jesus: “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
Just like the children in the video, Jesus calls us by name to himself. When we first begin our journey of faith, when we hear His call, we take off with everything we’ve got. We begin with passion, vigor and desire to be as close to God as possible. Jesus offers us living water, and a satisfaction that can come from nothing else.
And yet, just like the sheep, we almost always get distracted. “I hear you Jesus, I’m coming!!! Oh hey, what’s that person offering me over there?”
We stop listening to the shepherds voice. Distractions can be anything: worldly pleasures, work, legalism, persecution, lies of the enemy. Once we’ve stopped listening to the call, we quickly forget that Jesus offers us abundant life, and we start looking to others to satisfy us.
The problem, however, is that only Jesus can give life to the full.
And so I encourage you, do not get distracted from the Shepherd. He knows you by name, and He is calling you today into His presence. Seek Him out, He is not so hard to find as we often think!
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)
What causes you to lose sight of the prize? Share with us in the comments below…
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