February 3

LAMBS, OR SHEEP
by Ray Prinzing

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."                  (John 10:27).

When Paul wrote that God hath "committed into us the word of reconciliation," so that "we are ambassadors for Christ," (2 Corinthians 5:19-20), we note that the word for "ambassador" is a Greek word literally meaning, TO BE ELDERS, SENIOR. Not a novice untrained, undeveloped, but one who has been matured and fully processed and able to bear the load of responsibility.  When it comes to spiritual matters, it is not speaking of natural age-spans, for some dear souls remain childish in attitude and understanding year after year.  We speak of that maturity which comes when the Spirit has dealt with us and so thoroughly processed us with His disciplines that we KNOW our God, and become one in His will.  He is able to do a quick work, and cut it short in righteousness, and it appears that He is certainly increasing the tempo in these days.  Yieldedness to the Spirit of God is the vital issue for processing.

The Shepherd calls, and the mature sheep, those who have followed Him and grown under His care, they recognize His voice.  The lambs do not always recognize His voice, but they know their own mother-system, and so they will follow her, and she, as the mature sheep must follow the Shepherd.  In due time the lambs will grow and learn to recognize the Shepherd's voice also, but it is the SHEEP who KNOW His voice.

There is a need today for direct communion with our Shepherd, to know HIS VOICE, and not have to follow the "mother systems" which were used to help birth us into this walk with the Lord.  Some of the "mothers" begin to insist that you follow on in their way, and not release you to hear the Shepherd for yourself, and such ones God will judge.  Nor is the weaning process easy to go through, we feel bereft and alone.  But the Shepherd knows exactly where we are, He has not left us, nor forsaken us.  He simply strips away some of these props, so that we might be more attentive to His voice alone. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  (Luke 12:32).