Big Sheep
A politician who lost an important election was asked by a nosy reporter how he was sleeping since his stunning, humiliating defeat. The veteran of many hard fought election campaigns replied, “I sleep like a baby. I wake up every two hours and cry my eyes out until I fall back asleep.”
Jesus exalted childlike qualities stating, in Luke 18:17, “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Childlike, however, is far from being childish.
While giving my nut-brown once baby girl a bubble bath, she began to squeal as the suds swirled down the open drain, “Lift me out! Lift me out! Hurry Daddy, or I’ll get sucked down the drain!” I swooped her up in her bath towel rescuing her from the fate of the bye-bye bubbles grinning to myself. One day I am going to ask her to stay in the tub as all the water drains away to make her understand she won’t be “sucked down the drain,” but for today, I am content to be her hero. Her fear of going down the drain is certainly childish, but her faith that I will protect her is childlike.
My kids have taught me much concerning the kingdom of God. I used to dress both of my offspring, but my now maturing son insists on picking out his own clothes, you know, the “cool” ones. I suppose clashing plaids and stripes might actually be cool these days, but I told him if I ever saw him shuffling about with his underwear hanging out of the back of his pants, I will retaliate with Daddy’s corrective prerogative, the Atomic Wedgie.
My daughter, thankfully, loves my attention, and adores having her hair brushed, “Please be gentle, Daddy.” She likes my taste in her clothes and coos, snuggling up close when I dress her. We have a morning ritual that consists of a spill-proof cup of strawberry milk, playing Big Lump under the sheets, and bathing and dressing. During this madcap hour, I always quote a Bible verse to her until she can quote it back to me. It surprised me to learn that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the knife, but hey, we’re making progress.
Recently, I taught her that Jesus is the Lamb of God. The next day I asked her who Jesus was and she replied. “He’s the Big Sheep, Daddy, and I’m the little lamb!”
The Big Sheep? Little lamb?
Uh, yeah, actually he is the Big Sheep. Come to think of it, she is the little lamb, too. Since Christ is the Head of the church, I’d say she grasped the reality of his Lordship rather well.
When I worship the Lord, I now address him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Bright and Morning Star, the Son of David, the Messiah, and, added to His impressive list of titles, I now bow before my Savior worshipping him as the Big Sheep.
Perhaps I am being a bit childish, but the description fits perfectly. Then again, perhaps I am simply loving God in childlike simplicity. Though I am a burly middle-aged man, I kind of like the thought of being his little lamb. Big sheep, little sheep; however you phrase it, I am the beloved child of the King. As he is also the Great Physician, perhaps I should open my mouth in worship and say, “Baaaaaaaaaaah!”
Bryan Hupperts © 2001 -2009
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