Have you head-butted Jesus?

It wasn’t a mini ranch, it was just a few acres.

I was in the fifth grade when we moved onto this old property on the outskirts of Phoenix. We had a horse, for a while we had a calf, some chickens and geese, and finally came a couple of sheep.

This was my first experience with sheep. They looked so friendly and fun, I immediately climbed the fence into their pasture.

I didn’t stay there long.

Have you ever been head-butted by sheep who take a running aim directly at you?

I was that day.

Then I learned something about those sheep.

They were frightened of me because they didn’t know me. They were in a strange place being approached by someone they didn’t know. So they ran at me in an attempt to send me running.

And I did!

But I also learned if you’re patient and gentle with those sheep, they will follow you around like puppies once they get to know you. They soon loved interacting with me, welcomed the snacks I brought them, and bleated loudly when I scampered over the fence and left them alone.

Sometimes I think we Christians are like those sheep when it comes to interacting with our Great Shepherd. Because many of us don’t take the time, or make the effort, to really get to know the Shepherd, we’re more likely to try to head-butt Him than embrace Him.

These words of Jesus are recorded in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.”

Do you know the Good Shepherd? Or do you run at Him because He’s more a stranger to you than a trusted Shepherd? What efforts are you taking to truly get to know Him?

Scotty