The Plumbline

If you have ever formed a higher opinion of yourself than what another might see, I don't think you are alone.  In fact, there are times in our lives when we just naturally think of ourselves as doing a better job than another, performing a bit stronger than another, or just plain more beautiful or handsome than another.  What is happening when we are forming this "self opinion"?  We are comparing ourselves to another's appearance, performance, or accomplishments.  Risky business, at best, because we ALWAYS stand the chance someone will come along who out-performs, out-shines, and out-classes us!  Perhaps this is why scripture warns us against such comparison, but it is also why scripture reminds us of our "equality" as human beings.  ALL have fallen short of the glory of God.  ALL have sinned.  ALL have no ability to get this redemption thing right under their own power.  ALL need a Savior. Plain and simple - none of us out-performs, out-sh...

Do you ever come across those sayings in the Bible that you just cannot figure out?  In one sense, you look at what is said, thinking it might mean one thing, but in the time it was written it meant something entirely different. We aren't sheep herders by trade in the Middle East living about 2,000-3,000 years ago, so some of the practices and things said about shepherds just don't make a whole lot of sense.  We think the term, "...the sheep know his voice..." is referring to some form of obedience on the part of Christ's followers.  In one sense, it could imply this, but in reality, the shepherd would take the newborn lamb, sling it across his shoulders, carrying it there for a period of time until it got used to his voice.  Then he'd set it down to walk with the rest of the sheep.  In those days, they didn't herd sheep with horses and lots of sheep dogs.  They simply called for the sheep, and because they knew the shepherds tone of voice, they followed....