God’s people are a thing sought after. Some want them for their own, others hate God’s sheep, and still others just hate God. And I’m sure most of the pursuers are a mixture of all three and then some. It’s dangerous being a sheep in God’s flock.
Especially since we’ve all, every one of us sheep, called upon ourselves a slaughtering. We flirt with our enemies. We tempt them and make them salivate with the thought of dining on our flesh and wearing our wool.
But we have a Good Shepherd, One who will always fight for us and Who will always triumph. If we turn away from sin, and listen to His voice, then we will always find safe pasture for our souls.
He is not a hired hand. Some claim to be defenders of the Church, but when it comes down to their very life being on the line… well, they abandon us just as fast as they can. I’m guessing they’re not even truly employed, but rather they are something more like mercenaries waiting on wages that were never offered or promised.
Jesus isn’t like them. Like a mighty Lion, He wages war for His Zion.
There has been a problem created by our actions though. There is a required payment for our sins. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who lays His life down for His sheep. And because it’s a sheep’s blood that’s required for the sheep’s sins, Jesus took our form upon Himself to satisfy the debt.
His blood became as our blood, except without the sickness of sin. He became one of us, and knew our every struggle intimately. Being found in appearance as a man, the very nature of a servant, He humbled Himself and obeyed death. And not just death, but death on the cross. He became the Shepherd in sheep’s clothing, sacrificed.
Some people, not all but some, die for others because they have no choice. If they’re going to die anyway then they figure they might as well do it for a good cause. Or maybe, against their own will, their life is taken in place of someone else’s.
Jesus isn’t like them. No, Jesus didn’t have to die… ever. But He layed down His life of His own accord, on our behalf. And by the same authority given Him to lay it down on our behalf, He took it up and overcame death.
He is the Good Shepherd.
There is a constant blood-lust that hungers for the sheep of God. But we need not fear the wolf in sheep’s clothing… not when we follow the voice of the Shepherd in sheep’s clothing.
Writing for Christ! 
I like this! Very good alliteration. Thank you for those thoughts… I like the picture that it brings to mind… the sacrificed shepherd in sheep’s clothing. Brings it home.
Appreciate the continued work and the sequential stuff so people can prepare by reading the next chapter. It is a good work, my friend, keep it going.
And off topic…I will be out there Thursday, would you and your lovely wife care to get together for a bit to work on some music?