Why do you listen to the world? We are not of this world. Release yourself from the hurts and barriers of this earthly world. They are wrong. They don’t know you. I ALONE know you. I created you. I loved you into being. Now that you have joined the flock, listen to my voice. I am your good shepherd. I will not lead you astray. I will protect you and not harm you. I will feed you and make sure you do not fall. I died so that we could be together. Right now, not just in heaven. The things of the world are poison to you. Toxic. They become distasteful to you at first and your tolerance for them will diminish until you can’t stand the things of the world. That is evidence of your fleshly transformation. The world is cold and dark. You have layer upon layer of clothing on to protect you from it.
- The sweater your mom made you that is itchy and causes you great fear.
- The long johns that your dad bought you that fit too tightly of the brand you-don’t-measure-up and you-are-not-loved.
- The shirt that your friends gave you that is stained with insults and torn by bullies.
- The pants you wear labeled with “possessions-are-happiness” down one leg and “keep-up-or-be-trampled” down the other. They make you run and run like a rodent on an enclosed motorized wheel that never stops.
- The boxing gloves you use to defend yourself and sometimes use to pass on the bullying to someone who you perceive to be weaker than you.
- The iron boots that you chose for yourself based on culture’s ideal body type or your rejection from someone you trusted with your open fleshy heart.
- The football helmet you have imagined based on lies and half-truths. It has made you hardheaded and stiff-necked.
Now that you are my sheep, you need to take off those heavy hot clothes because you are in my pasture. My light is warm sunshine. My field is peaceful. My pasture is rich with nourishment. Follow my voice and trust me enough to do what I ask. I am the GOOD shepherd. You are home now. You can rest in my love. I have so many good gifts for you and so much to show you but you have to shed the world’s hurtful clothing. You are a sheep, and sheep don’t need clothing. That’s just silly.
