Feeling sheepish...

If you've ever watched 24 you'll know about Kim Bauer's tendency to ignore instructions and land herself in the hands of the evil men that Jack will eventually remove. Jack gives instructions, Kim ignores them, gets in trouble, Jack puts his life on the line to save her, and the process begins once more. 

The whole history of the Church is characterised by this same pattern. Time and time again we see God's people disobey Him and lead themselves into despair, in need of God's rescuing and salvation. Despite God's unending goodness, grace and mercy, and despite proving Himself faithful and trustworthy, His people rebel, ignore, and wander astray. From Adam and Eve's disobedience in Eden in Genesis 3, the Old Testament is littered with a people who mess up and fail, run back to God, only to slip up again, and again...

It's this theme that makes me identify with the Old Testament. Their story is my story. When I look at their stunningly brilliant ability to consistently forget God's goodness, it's like looking into a mirror reflecting my own nature. Countless times I have worshipped God in the presence of His glory, astounded by His love, His goodness, and His majesty, only to return to my self-centred routines satisfying the self and minimizing his death. I love King David because although he is described as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), he messed up big time with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).  

we all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way (Isaiah 53:6)

My spiritual journey is one that all too often resembles a sheep who strays off. I know the guiding and feeding hand of the Shepherd, but I regularly forfeit it.

I love the Bible because the stories of God's people thousands of years ago are my stories now. 

I have recently tried to revive my own personal devotions, part of the reason that I have started blogging. I've been studying the book of Hebrews. Hebrews is written to a group of Jewish Christians who apparently have been starting to turn back to the ways of their old religion - they have forgotten the glory of Jesus. I didn't choose Hebrews, it just happened to be the book that my study notes were based on this month - but in thinking about it now, could there be a more appropriate book for me in the present?

The writer of Hebrews reminds these Christians that JESUS is paramount. Above the angels, above creation, Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, sustaining all things by His powerful word. 

we must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away - for if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation (2:1)

I am comforted and encouraged that my stumbling and circling walk is one experienced by God's people throughout history, but I don't want to rest in that knowledge. I, we, have a GREAT salvation. A God who is faithful and gracious. In studying Hebrews I have been reminded that if there is one thing that will sustain my walk - it is Jesus Christ. He is the only thing that will be sufficient in acting as Shepherd to this wandering sheep, to guide this pillock successfully in my pilgrimage.