Monday Devo - Matthew 25:31-33
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”
The passage goes on telling the story of how the “sheep” on the right chose to obey the teachings of the Lord and the “goats” on the left chose to lead a life of disobedience that did not bring glory to the Lord. Both choices led to an eternal result. The sheep got eternal life and the goats got eternal punishment.
I never put much thought into the difference between a sheep and a goat. I have almost used the terms interchangeably. How dumb of me. I did some research and learned some things I didn’t know before. A goat’s tail goes up, while sheep tails hang down. Goats will eat sticks, shrubs, vines and leaves while sheep are grazers searching out green grass. Sheep tend to stick together, while goats are curious and independent.
This parable or story illustrates the difference between true and false followers of Jesus. The sheep were true disciples because they tried to be like Christ and do the things he taught. The goats on the other hand did not and seemed to fail Jesus and the message of the gospel. As I noted previously these people had different destinies. True followers (the sheep) are given eternal life and welcomed into God’s kingdom. The false followers (the goats) are sent to eternal punishment in hell.
So…. Are you a sheep or a goat (and no goat doesn’t stand for Greatest Of All Time here). True “sheep” act like their shepherd and live by such characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Step back and do a quick assessment of where you are at. Choose to be a true sheep and follow the Great Shepherd.
“Choose to be a true sheep and follow the Great Shepherd.”