Are you a Bummer Lamb?

I was reading a story recently about a farmer who had a group of sheep, and this story stuck out to me. It reminded me of God's love for us. Sometimes, on a farm, an ewe gives birth, but for some reason or another, like trauma, stress, or even the weakness in the lamb, she rejects her baby. This lamb is left alone and is probably cold and starving. It will not survive unless someone intervenes for it.

This Rejected lamb is called a bummer lamb, but the story does not end here. The Shepherd sees this abandoned lamb, carefully picks it up, and brings it into his house. He then proceeded to bottle-feed the lamb, wrapping it in blankets and keeping it close to the fire to keep it warm. Over time, this lamb grows stronger, but it never forgets the Shepherd who saves it. Unlike the other sheep, this bummer lamb stays close to the Shepherd. It follows the Shepherd's voice even more closely than the other lambs. It does not wander far because it knows the one who gave it life.

This imagery reveals a profound truth that when you reflect on Psalm 23, it is one of the central points of our Christian Walk. As you read Psalm 23, please picture this bummer lamb who was abandoned, then rescued, and now resting safely in the Shepherd's care.

V.1 The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. 

V.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 

V.3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his namesake's sake. 

V.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

V.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

V.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Let's take a moment to break down this Psalm and discuss how it reflects our lives as Christians and the different graces we experience from the Lord. 

Prevenient Grace

Verse, one starts with "The Lord is my shepherd." John Wesley often taught that God's grace begins working in our lives before we are even aware of him. This grace is called prevenient grace or a grace that goes before. Just like the bummer lamp was hopeless before the Shepherd intervened, we, too, are helpless without the Lord's intervention. We cannot save ourselves if we are left in our sin, confusion, or despair. We need a savior, and that savior is Christ Jesus; in John 10:11-18, Jesus calls him "the Good Shepherd," and He is our Good Shepherd. The wonderful thing about this is that He's come looking for us, even when we are lost. He starts caring for us before we even know we need him. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:10, "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." This is an amazing grace.

Justifying Grace

Verse three reads, "He restores my soul…" The fantastic thing is the restoration begins the moment we hear an answer yes to the Shepherd's call. This is called justifying grace, and it is the moment that we are made right with God through faith, just like the Shepard who takes in the Bummer Lamb and nurses it back to health. Our Good Shepherd takes us in, forgives us, cleanses us, and brings us into God's household. Just like the lamb did not earn rescue from the Shepherd, we do not and cannot earn salvation. It is a gift given freely by God our Father.

Sanctifying Grace

Verse three continues, "He leads me in paths of righteousness…" In some translations, this verse reads, "he leads me in right paths." Our Good Shepherd doesn't just save us; he walks with us and guides us. In our Christian life, this is called sanctification, a life being made wholly by walking in step with Christ. We are growing in love with God and seeing our neighbors as they need to be seen. Just as the bummer lamb learns to stay close to the Shepherd by hearing him, we must remain close to God and become more like him daily.

Assurance and Love

Ask Christians if we can believe in assurance of salvation; we can know we are God's lambs. This insurance grows out of a real living relationship with our good Shepherd. He will never cast us out, even when we stumble. The Apostle Paul wrote in Hebrews 13:5, "For he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" The nation of Israel was given a promise in Deuteronomy 31:8, "It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." The Lord promises that he is leading us and will be with us. We can be confident that we are in the Lord and that he cares for us. We must remember the Promise God said in Jeremiah 31:25, "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

Conclusion

Let me ask you a couple of questions that you can reflect on. 

Have you ever felt like a bummer lamb? Weak, Rejected, or forgotten?

Do you believe the Shepherd sees you even where you are right now? 

Where do you need restoration in your life today? Do you feel tired, fearful, or dry in your soul?

Are you following closely, or have you drifted from the Good Shepherd's side?

Maybe today, you are at a point in your life where you need to hear this simple truth. You are not forgotten. You are accepted. You are not too broken to be loved by the Good Shepherd. He is still near, always calling out to you into a deeper love and holiness with him. As Christians, we know that God's grace is not static but is dynamic and relational. We can always know that when we are in the green pastures or the Dark Valley, our good Shepherd is walking right there with us. And when we cannot walk anymore, he carries us. Remember when you are going through trials and tribulations what Isaiah wrote, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11)