Uncle Jesse (Dukes of Hazzard!) would often get on his radio and say: "Shepherd to Lost Sheep." We turn our attention during Advent and Christmas to the Good Shepherd (John 15). He takes on flesh and dies as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the lost sheep (John 1). He alone can cleanse us of our rebelliousness against God and our brokenness within ourselves and those around us. He alone makes us Christians: "found" sheep.

We Christians can get too comfortable with where we graze, thinking that our thoughts about God and Christ are all well and good. Satan, the world and our old sinful nature all continue to try to redefine the powerful God of salvation by grace through faith. In Christ, we certainly are at peace with God. The Holy Scriptures tell us that. But Satan tries to nudge us imperceptibly out of the sheep pen - as if we are self-sufficient. Without hearing HIS good news, without searching the pastures of the Holy Scriptures, we can lose the connection with the shepherd and sheep. After a while, being away from shepherd and other sheep seems normal.

Remember this nursery rhyme? "Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesn't know where to find them. But leave them alone and they will come home, a waggin' their tails behind them." Reality does not match the rhyme. Real sheep keep getting lost and stay lost! Pity the ones no one misses! Pity the one who does not recognize he or she is even lost!

Our God never wants to let us wander on our own into error and self-confidence. Our eternal life is in jeopardy when we get to thinking we are doing fine on our own. We are always getting "re-lost." That happens every time we forget that we are utterly dependent upon the Lamb of God on the Cross for our eternity and forget that we had to be found. Every week we ask God to spoil our wandering and keep it from becoming our way of life. Eternity with the Shepherd begins in the here and now: in praise and service to him.

Christians yearn to hear the Good News: I love you! I loved you enough to die for you. We must confess our rebelliousness and yet respond with joy to the one who calls us to come and worship him as the Newborn King, the Divine Shepherd, the Lamb who reigns.

I pray that you will rejoice that I will care, and grow in caring, for you as the Lord's sheep in this place. I will not always fulfill your desires and needs. But I will aim to search the Scriptures to be guided as Christ's under-shepherd, loving you for him. Please know that my heart is always for your spiritual welfare. I am honored to be asked to serve our Lord on your behalf and you on his behalf.

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp