Sheep are dumb…or at least that is what I’ve heard. They, apparently, are known for doing foolish things, like going astray. “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way…” Isaiah 53:6a Well, there you have it! We’re “dumb” like sheep. Be not offended by the use of “dumb”—simply put, the word can mean “lacking good judgement”, which is true—we all lack good judgement at different points in life…even as believers.
Sometimes, even after salvation, we go our own way. Though we have accepted Christ’s gift of sacrifice, forgiveness and redemption, we still partake in sins that can and do lead to danger, discontent, strongholds, and bondage.
Going astray does not apply to pre-salvation “big” sins only but also to “smaller” after-salvation white-washed soft sins, the ones we brush away: “shared information” in the name of a prayer need (2 Corinthians 12:20), grumbling about the way things are run at work or church (James 5:9), using biting/ugly words to communicate to a spouse or child (Ephesians 4:29), etc…
The second part of that verse should keep us in check, though: “…And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6b We must remember that our salvation bore a cost. Our redemption is not free; Jesus took the consequence of our sin—past, present and future—upon Himself.
Today, let us thank the one who bore our iniquity and refrain from going our own way. Let’s allow our Shepherd to, “lead [us] in the paths of righteousness…” Psalm 23:3
–Katie Botello
[/column]
