In the Middle East sheep and goats often look similar. I have seen this in Cyprus, and this photo of a mixed herd near Mt Ararat shows how difficult it can be to immediately tell the difference between the two types of animal.
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus tells us that at judgement God will divide the sheep and the goats. So what is the difference between the two?
The sheep fed the hungry, helped the poor, invited strangers......... The goats did not.
The sheep served others. The goats wanted to be served!
Yet both were in the herd, and appeared to follow the shepherd. What if we therefore had both in our church herd today? The goats who come to think what can I get out of church? Will it be a good show? Do I feel righteous for coming? And the sheep who come only to give and serve, and how can I help to build up the church today?
These are serious spiritual questions as they will affect our eternal future.
The question is which animal are you?
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus tells us that at judgement God will divide the sheep and the goats. So what is the difference between the two?
The sheep fed the hungry, helped the poor, invited strangers......... The goats did not.
The sheep served others. The goats wanted to be served!
Yet both were in the herd, and appeared to follow the shepherd. What if we therefore had both in our church herd today? The goats who come to think what can I get out of church? Will it be a good show? Do I feel righteous for coming? And the sheep who come only to give and serve, and how can I help to build up the church today?
These are serious spiritual questions as they will affect our eternal future.
The question is which animal are you?
RSS Feed
