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| I Believe in Easter by Gary Wilkinson |
When most of us think of Easter certain things immediately pop into our heads: colored eggs, marshmallow chicks, chocolate goodies, furry bunnies and of course, the precious little lamb.
Not everyone automatically thinks of it as Resurrection Day for Jesus Christ or the message that was to follow the conquering of the cross.
Welcome to this Special Holiday Edition of Daily Favor!
Note: News on Sally the Sheep - see below.
Lambing
Season
It’s
“lambing season” as my writer friend and breeder of sheep Titia would call it;
something we look forward to each spring.
Her 30 years of expertise lies in the breeding of the rare Dutch sheep
called Drenthen Heath Sheep (Drents Heideschaap).
I
first heard of Titia’s lambs on a writing platform where we both worked. In 2011 she began writing about the birthing
process and kindly started naming the newborns after fellow writers.
Over
the years she has continued sharing her stories about the lambing seasons and
follows up on each of them. Although
lambs are always adorable, there was something else that caught my attention as
she shared her experiences through her online pen.
The
Second Chance Sheep
I’ve
never been one to fall asleep counting sheep, although I have dared to
try. Counting sheep stories would even
be more tiresome if they were all the same and followed the traditional “cute
little lamby pamby” scenario. That’s why
when I began to follow Titia’s sheep stories they stood out from the rest. The distinctive thing about my friend is the
way she treats each lamb that is birthed in her care.
There are numerous reasons why a newborn animal may be
rejected by its mother. Most breeders
think that when a ewe wards off her offspring, it’s a sign of nature, and
consequently the newbies of such activity rarely live. Titia isn’t like those breeders, she believes
in second chances for all her lambs.
The
Bible refers to people as sheep that have gone astray. We are in need of someone to see past our
flaws and give us a second chance.
Titia’s way of thinking and doing is godly.
Not
a Nursery Rhyme
As
I prepared for this week’s writing the first thing that came to mind was “Mary
had a little lamb,” and I’m not referring to the nursery rhyme.
Following
the stories of my friend led me back over 2,000 years when another lamb was
born in Bethlehem … one that Mary the mother of Jesus would have to sacrifice
one day because of sin that had come into the world.
“But now the Righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the Righteousness of God,
through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His Righteousness, because in His forbearance God
had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the
present time His Righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the
one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-26 NKJV)
God
would send His Son, Jesus, a human lamb that would replace the sacrifice of
lambs of all breeders. The Lamb of God
would be the second chance that we would all need, but not all would believe is
necessary.
Like
some of the breeders Titia refers to in her writings, not everyone believes in
second chances, good outcomes or taking on that which was rejected. Thankfully we have a God that doesn’t think
that way and Jesus understands exactly how we feel.
Today
is Good Friday, a Holy day in which we remember the death of Jesus Christ who was
crucified for sinners. Many places of
business close their doors at 2 PM as a gesture of “holiness” and good practice
for those who do follow the Messiah. Oh
how we forget what happened between 9 AM – 3 PM.
When
you see films or photographs they depict Mary as broken and distraught over the
death of her little lamb, her son who would be born with the “soul” purpose of
dying. Those scenes bother me
tremendously for several reasons. Yes,
Mary would see her son crucified, something that would tear at her heart, but
we’ve forgotten something.
What
we forget is that Jesus didn’t stay the little lamb in flesh, but in
spirit. Jesus was pure in every aspect
of His life, without spot or blemish. This is something Mary never would
forget. The Bible tells us that Mary was
fully aware of the day her Son would be led to the slaughter like a sheep, and
that she “pondered these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
Although
it may be hard for us to understand this concept, God didn’t leave Mary
unprepared. She would see God’s purpose
for Jesus carried out in her lifetime.
Mary would bear witness of who really believed the message Jesus proclaimed
and see the powerful arm of God when she stood at the foot of the cross. Her eyes would gaze on the Son of Man being
rejected, despised, weakened in flesh, and weighed down by sorrows sickness and
disease.
She
saw a sinless individual take on the punishment of sin for all stray sheep (mankind)
and submit to the Will of the Heavenly Father without opening His mouth for reprieve.
(Isaiah 53)
Mary’s
lamb was always the sacrificed sheep from the day He was born. There would be
no other substitute before or after Jesus’ birth. This wasn’t a concept she had
to come to believe. It was already in
her heart from conception.
Mourning
Turned to Gladness
We
assume that Mary was full of tears and doubt when she saw Jesus’ lifeless body
being removed from the cross. However,
there is nothing to bear this as truth except our own feeling of losing a loved
one to death, especially a child.
After
the cross we next hear of Mary waiting her assignment from her risen Son and Savior as she
prayed in the Upper Room with the rest of the believers. If she was stricken with
grief, would she have followed such an instruction, or was it merely wishing
the words of Christ would come to pass?
How
glorious to be in Mary’s position. How
pleased Jesus was to be that little lamb.
Those who looked upon the death of Christ saw it as loss, but Mary knew
there was something to be gained. She believed God and in Him.
Caring
for God’s Lambs
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| Newborn " Cooper" black Drenthe Heathe Sheep lamb
Photo Source: © Titia Geertman
Photo used by permission.
|
This little one will be loved and cared for in every aspect of his entire life, not only as a lamb but into adulthood.
He
is a reminder of lambs being born into the body of Christ each day; precious, hungry and waiting to be fed.
Unlike Cooper, who has someone to watch over and guide him, there are thousands coming into the fold of Christ without caregivers.
Unlike Cooper, who has someone to watch over and guide him, there are thousands coming into the fold of Christ without caregivers.
New
believers or “lambies” often receive tremendous favor from God and have tons of
bottled up energy bursting to be released. Lamb believers are sweet and full of
excitement that the seasoned sheep sometimes don’t want to be bothered with or resent. Lambs will eventually become sheep, and all
sheep need to be shepherded.
Just
as Mary knew what was to come of her little lamb, scripture tells us what happens
to those who fall away or never believe
in the Son of God as the redeemer of sins and giver of eternal life.
Those
who remain in unbelief give up on hope, second chances and their part in the
Resurrection. If you have accepted Jesus
as the Christ, Messiah and Living Son of God, it is part of your resurrection
contract for eternal life to share what you know about the Word of God.
Jesus,
risen Son of God, thank You for the price paid and the victorious work of the
Cross. The tomb is empty giving hope forever more, with life everlasting.
Thank You for taking our sin and
shame. Thank You for loving so much that You grant amazing favor, mercy and
grace. You are worthy; Holy is the Lamb of God!
Jesus
is the Son of God, seated on His Throne in Heaven. Our Passover Lamb Christ Jesus who took our place on the cross, is
worthy of our praise, but He is also worthy of our sharing the message of the
Resurrection not just the cross.
This
Week’s Challenge:
Sharing
responsibility for a living thing is a tremendous undertaking as Titia would attest. However, taking part in the eternal life of
an individual is something that requires much favor from God if it is to be effective
in changing that soul.
Our
challenge this week won’t be one that ends in seven days. It is something that we want to do as an
ongoing part of the flock of our Good Shepherd Jesus. God would have us “Adopt
a lamb”, a new believer, by putting their name in your heart continually as if
they were your own (like God did with you).
In
your prayers this week, ask the Lord who needs tending to when it comes to new
lambs among the Christian flock. Instead
of just praying for them, get involved as an elder sheep by seeing to some of
their needs spiritually. Lead them to
services such as small group classes for new believers, and even attend them
with the lamb if need be in the beginning sessions. (Hebrews 3)
Bring
new believers to church socials, invite them to Christian fellowship dinners
and provide them with literature or materials that will help them grow in their
faith. Mind you, this isn’t to persuade them to your way of thinking, but to
encourage them to seek God’s will and way for their life. It’s their journey; lead them to the path of
God.
Mary
gave birth to Jesus, God’s first little lamb; for Him it’s always lambing
season. As we remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus this week,
let us thank Him for the cross and be mindful that:
The Lamb of God’s
message is still being birthed,
because lambing
season is always in season!
Until
next time, favor comes to all who believe.
Special thanks to Titia for her kindness. Read more about Titia my Dutch friend.
Sally the beloved virtual sheep has moved! She is a reminder that all sheep (human or creature) have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, so Sally now lives at Favored Pets.
“I favored you on the cross.”
Jesus Christ
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Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway.
Image credit: Google Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified.
Image: I Believe in Easter Lambing Season Manger Shadow Cross Jesus Lamb of God John 1:12 Upper Room Beyond the Cross
Poem: Mary Had A Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale
Public Domain Mary Had a Little Lamb
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.