Isolation or part of the fold?

Psalm 100:3

“Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are His.

We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

As an Introvert my tendency would be to isolate myself from the crowd, yes even from the flock of God, especially in times of stress or pressure.  But this verse tells us that we are part of the flock.  It is a corporate thing, not just isolate sheep wondering around on their own, but part of God’s flock.

What does this mean for us?

Well it means that we find a church fellowship/congregation and even though it is not perfect (it can’t be because we are in it!!), we commit to it we belong to it, we take the others as part of that flock and look out for them.  We come under the eye of the Pastor/Shepherd, where we can be fed, receive instruction (yes, and also rebuke!), but where we can be cared for and looked after.

This morning I have had to go up our field and search for one of our missing sheep.  She always had a tendency to isolate herself and just not quite be part of the rest of them.  The result – she has left herself vulnerable and open to prey and the snow and ice.  I couldn’t find her, she is probably lying in a ditch covered in snow, all because she isolated herself.

There is a definite lesson for me there.  If I feel I don’t quite fit, or I don’t quite have the right skills or attitude to be part of the flock, or even that I am hurting too much, or carrying too much then I can remove myself, even just ever so slightly away from folk.  The result – I carry my own burdens, I become insular, I listen to the lies of satan, I strive and fail, I am open to attack and even criticism.  I am alone, I vulnerable.

This is not right!  If I am one of God’s sheep then I should be in a flock!

Find a flock.  Stay in the flock, don’t stray, don’t try and do it all on your own.  Share your burdens, be honest  and at this time of year of busy preparation in particular stay close to the flock, take some feeding and some rest and stay in their protection.

He made us, We are His!

He knows us and He put us in families, in communities, in congregations so that we can have the love, feeding, rest, security and protection of fellowship.

I am not alone, you are not alone – WE are His flock, the sheep of His pasture.!

So let us stay in the safety of the fold, under the guidance and protection our Great and Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.