January 1
Black Sheep
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ––John 10:2-4
Here’s the scenario: Great family you know, parents are awesome, all four kids raised in the same home under the same conditions. Three of the children make smart moves in life—functional, healthy, independent. But one of them just … doesn’t. They seem to struggle from early on, and never quite get on track. Rather than two steps forward and one step back, it’s one step forward and two—or three—steps back. It’s the friend you love but who just makes the dumb decisions. The one that gets the DUIs, struggles in school, or just doesn’t seem to fit in a world that rewards “normal.”
Who’s the broken branch in your family tree? Every family seems to have at least one. My family has more than one, for sure. Or, maybe you are considered the black sheep—whether you accept the label or not. Let’s look at both sides of this:
If you have a black sheep in your family or friendship circle, remember that …
- Jesus hung out with the “broken branches” of the societal tree of Israel.
- We are all lost sheep gone astray—not one of us is perfect or white as snow.
- The Lord embraces the outcast, the neurodivergent, the wanderer, and the downcast.
- Jesus sees the inner man, and looks for those whose hearts break at the things that break His.
If you are the “broken branch” in your family tree, remember that …
- In Christ, God casts your sins—and your past—as far as the east is from the west.
- All have fallen short of the glory of God—you can start today to rebuild your life because God allows U-turns.
- Your past does not define you—who you are in Christ is your true identity.
- Ephesians 1 calls His followers saints—don’t buy the devil’s lie that you are unworthy of His love.
When it comes to falling short, we are all His sheep—choose any color you want! Stinky, stubborn, and not always that smart. But, He says of us,
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ––John 10:27-28
No matter your past or present situation, He sees and hears you. Nothing—and no one—can snatch you out of His hand.
Father, thank You that Jesus is my Shepherd and that despite my past, I have a bright future.