When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11 TPT)
Then [Jesus] had a child come and stand among them. He wrapped the child in his arms and said to them,“Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes not only me, but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37 TPT)
Last week our ewe became a first-time mom. Lucy had a few weeks of “quality time” with a visiting ram last fall, and that resulted in twin babies last week. We’d known we needed to prepare for the birth, so we created a space away from other sheep so mama and babies could have bonding time. I bought things like colostrum replacer and a bottle “just in case,” and we installed a heat lamp for the little ones, as the nights were below freezing. Last Thursday we checked on Lucy via the internet cameras we had set up and – voila! – there were two little black baby lambs who had joined our world.
Thankfully, the birth and first few days have gone very smoothly. We didn’t need to help Lucy at all; she seems to have taken to mothering just fine. The babies do just what babies should do – eat, play, poop, and sleep. They are adorable to watch and very curious. One of these little explorers figured out pretty quickly she could crawl right through the cattle-panel fencing. (I quickly wove twine through the inside panel so that they couldn’t get out of their barn space.) Mama and babies can go out into the barnyard for some play and exercise time, but someone has to watch over them or the babies will find themselves outside of their safe pen. In a few weeks this will pass, as they will outgrow their ability to crawl through fences. But, in the meantime, they need a bit of extra protection.
Last night at church our pastor was preaching on the difference between being “child-like” and “childish” in our faith. Jesus wants us to be child-like – trusting God, learning and growing. But we aren’t supposed to be “childish” – selfish, needy, tossed to and fro by the latest trends (even church trends), and generally spiritually immature. The Apostle Paul was pretty straight with the Church at Corinth when he told them to grow up, spiritually, past that of a baby needing milk to that of a child who can eat solid food. “When I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT)
Just like we would expect little lambs to nurse, to need extra warmth, to play, and to be generally immature, we would expect to need to care and protect them more intentionally. But, if these needs are met, they are expected to grow! First they will outgrow the ability to shimmy through the outside fence lines. Then they will outgrow the need to nurse. Then they will grow into being breeding stock for future generations. Sheep go from nursing babes to mature adults in about a year. People mature, albeit not so quickly, if they are willing to grow and change.
There’s nothing wrong in being a “baby” in the faith if that’s where you are. Enjoy the fun! Romp, play, and enjoy the Lord! Make him smile and laugh, much as our baby lambs do for us. Jesus wants us to come “as” a child to him – to seek him with faith and trust – but not to be stuck in spiritual immaturity. I believe (because I have seen) God watch over young ones in the faith with an extra measure of grace and protection because, well, they (I/we/you) need it. But we were created for a purpose and a plan – God has things for us to do to further his Kingdom. If we don’t grow into the fullness of being spiritually mature, we lose the opportunity to do great things for God. Yet, even as we grow and mature, we must maintain our child like faith and trust in our Good Shepherd. May we recognize the voice of our true Shepherd because we belong to him. AMEN.
Good Shepherd,
You are our Lord, the one who provides all we need. You lead us, renew us, guide us, and help us rest in peaceful places. Thank you for the gift of new life – whether baby lambs or people who come into your Kingdom. Thank you for your call to come to you as a child – with abandon, trust, and child-like faith. Help us to come with joy to meet our Lord, whether we are babes in the faith or more mature believers. Help us to always continue to grow, so that we become the fullness of who you have created us to be and we fulfill your Kingdom purposes. When life takes us through challenges and attacks, we pray you will be close beside us, protecting and comforting us. Keep us from crawling through fences and boundaries into unprotected places. Remind us that our place of blessing is within your arms of love. May your goodness and unfailing love pursue us so that we may live in your house forever. We ask these things in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Adorable and brief sheep video: Click Here
The true Shepherd walks right up to the gate, and because the gatekeeper knows who he is, he opens the gate to let him in. And the sheep recognize the voice of the true Shepherd, for he calls his own by name and leads them out, for they belong to him. And when he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them and they will follow him, for they are familiar with his voice. (John 10:2-4 TPT)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever. (Psalm 23 NLT)