One night a little sheep with his sleepy eyes and sleepy face went to look for his Shepherd.
"Why aren't you asleep?" asked The Shepherd without looking at him. He was looking at the stars as he guarded for the night.
Little Sheep, ignoring his Shepherd's question walked forward and sat on his Shepherd's lap. His Shepherd, looked at him with a smile on his face and pulled him in his embrace.
"I can't sleep." muttered the little one innocently. "Why arent you asleep?"
The Shepherd patting his head said "I am guarding."
Little Sheep, disturbed by the sudden thought that came to his mind asked "Master, when I grow up, will you still stay by my side?"
"Why did you ask?"
Little Sheep then explained to his master about the flock of adult sheeps he saw earlier on that day. "They are so huge, so powerful and their shepherd, he was nowhere in sight. Will you...leave me too when I've grown up?"
The Shepherd picked him up at eye level and rested him on his knees said "When you grow up, you will be old enough to think for yourself. You will be strong enough to take care of yourself. And you may be 'herding' your own flock."
Little Sheep began to look troubled. "But...I don't want to grow up. I don't want to leave your side and I dont want to herd any flock."
Placing his head on his sheep's head, the Shepherd said "When did I say I will leave you? But a time will come for a fledgling to leave its nest. That same way, a time will also come for you to be strong enough to live with the other adult sheeps. You will grow big and learn to help me look out for the other little sheeps.( that whats he meant when he told him to herd his own flock). And I will still be with you. "
Little Sheep pouted as he looked away from his shepherd. "I don't want to grow up." He said timidly.
His shepherd picked him up and embraced him tightly. "You have to. Everybody does. Don't you worry for I am with you always. As you grow, Little Sheep, you will learn to take care of one another. You will learn to stay together and learn to differentiate friends and foes."
Little Sheep with a pair of teary eyes looked at his shepherd as he speaks gently and wished with all his heart that he will never have to grow up.
"You can do it little one. I know you can." said his Shepherd gently.
Little Sheep hugged his Shepherd tightly and nodded.
"Now go to sleep. It's getting late." As he said this, Little Sheep with his sleepy eyes had already fallen asleep.
The Shepherd smiled at his sleeping sheep as he placed the little one in one of the grass patch among his flock.
"And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:20
Epilogue
The story is an illustration of us, as the followers of Jesus Christ (His sheep) and the Shepherd, as Jesus Christ - our good Shepherd.
Just like Little Sheep, we all started as a fresh-young Christian, vulnerable and dependent to God. But someday, a time will come for us to grow into a full grown sheep, who although still under the flock and care of Christ, but independent enough to stand on our own faith.
One of Jesus's command to us before He was ascented to Heaven, was to "make disciples" from all nations, baptizing them under the trinity of Christ (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) and "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
But the making of disciples and teaching of His commands will never takes place if we, just like little sheep in the story, refuse to grow up. Surely we have heard of the phrase "grow in Him" or "keep on growing in spirit with God" etc. Indeed! as children of God, His followers, His sheeps, we have to continuously growing in Him.
Growing in the sense that our spiritual level of understanding matured. Improved. Upgraded. Deepened in faith and experiences. (and in the illustration of sheep content, growing from a Little Sheep, to a full grown sheep.)
Sometimes, unfortunately, as Christians, we are afraid to grow up. We are fearful to grow and prefers to be nursed by God all the time. Repent! My brothers and sisters in Christ. Repent from the wrong mentality that you are having.
God longs for us to "make disciples" in all nations and God longs for us to be His instruments. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest fields." ( Matthew 9:37-38) and "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8). He yearns for us to share his gospel and make disciples. And these desires can only be done if we respond to Him. To do that, we shall respond by continuously longs for Him, seeks Him, growing in Him and Evangelise! Share the gospel! Redeemed lives!
Be Still and know that when we grow into a mature Christian, able to share the gospel, redeem lives, baptize people etc. That does not mean that God is not with us. Remember He is Immanuel. His name is Immanuel which means God with us. So, He will be with us from the day you believe, the moment you grow, until you have grown/ is making disciples and forever more.
Just like a Shepherd that will never leaves his flock so is God. He will never leaves us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) So, holdling on to that promise let us take a leap of faith, be courageous and be "fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19).
Do not be afraid to grow in Him. Instead grow and experienced Him more.
You will be surprised by what He wants you to do and what you never expect yourself can do.
Don't you worry that God will leave you for He will never leaves you.
A friend of mine recently shared this beautiful quote with me - a quote that surely everyone of us here often heard but neglected. "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."
So, do not be afraid of growing. Do not be afraid to make disciples and cast your net among the sea of people. Afterall thats what we, followers of Christ need to do.
God will never leaves you. And though at times, when you are making disciples, when you are in the process of growing/ standing on your own, and God is not there to literally guide you, embrace you, or He may seems silence; remember that does not means He does not exist. Or that He is too far from your reach. Or you are forgotten. God is still there. Forever remains around you. In your heart. In Spirit. Through His words. As you pray.
Be Still and know that He is Immanuel. He will always be with us "to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20) as He had promised.
I pray that we continue to grow in Him and may all glory honour and praise be given to God forever and ever. To God be the glory.
Amen
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