The term "black sheep" is an idiom in many languages that means an individual in a family or group that does not fit in and is of ill-repute. It comes from the fact that the black wool is unable to be dyed like the white wool is, thereby making the black sheep less desirable. There are generally fewer black than white sheep in a herd, since it is from a recessive gene, which makes them stand out. Interestingly, in the Old West, black sheep were used to help keep count of how many were in the herd. Every 100th sheep was a black sheep, so if one counted the black sheep, it was like counting by hundreds.
Have you ever felt like something you did or said made you the "black sheep" in your family or in a group? It may have been hard to change that image of you in other people's minds once it was established. Have you ever felt as if you just didn't quite fit in with the crowd? Sometimes that is a good thing, if the crowd is undesirable in some way. So sometimes it is good to be the "black sheep" or the different one, just like the sheep in the Old West helped them keep the flock count.
From God's perspective we are ALL black sheep. We have all sinned and fall short of his glory. But the amazing thing is that God still loves us, lays our sins upon his only Son and sacrifices him on the cross in our place, forgiving us and giving us eternal life with him in heaven.
Isaiah 53:6, 11-12 (The Message) We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him... Out of that terrible travail of soul, he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many "righteous ones," as he himself caries the burden of their sins. Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly - the best of everything, the highest honors - Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.
No matter what we have done or not done, said or not said, no matter how bad we feel we have been or how far we have fallen, we are all in the same flock - loved, forgiven and redeemed by Jesus. We can never become so lost that the Shepherd cannot find us and bring us back. We are all the beloved little lambs of his flock.
Dear Lord Jesus, our great Shepherd, we thank you for seeing us all as your beloved flock. When we see ourselves as unforgivable "black sheep," gently remind us that we are no different than anyone else. We have all gone astray. As we turn to you for forgiveness, gently lead us back into your fold. May we be living examples of your love to all the other lambs of this world. In your name we pray, Amen.
written by Jan Andersen
The fact that we are forgiven for all the things that we have done and repented of that gave us the title of a "Black Sheep." Sometimes the title is earned and needs to be turned around. .All too often it is subjective and the opinion of others who are dissatisfied with a persons activities that they disagree with and not inherent with the labeled person's behavior. We need to be careful of labeling others lest we earn the label as well, Keep in mind what Jesus said..."Let you who are sinless through the first stone." ...even if it is a verbal stone.
ReplyDeleteGod bless