Christ the Good Shepherd; What does He do with His sheep that fall?

Believers in Christ, the power that saves and heals us is the same power that sets things right in our lives, causing us to live right, reign over death and do God's good pleasure. See Christ's counsel to us in John 6:

"Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over Me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent Me is in charge. He draws people to Me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End.""

Consider "setting them on their feet." What does this mean? It has to do with the relationship that Christ the Good Shepherd has with we His sheep (all who have Christ as their righteousness and strength.)

Did you know that whenever a sheep gets cast (falls on its back with all four legs in the air,) it can never right itself on its own? This is a picture of what happens to the believer (Christ's sheep) whenever he falls. The Shepherd puts the sheep back on its feet. After righting the sheep, the Shepherd holds it steady until it regains its bearings or else it will topple over again! The Shepherd will never disflock the sheep for falling. He will help you.

There is nothing worse than a cast sheep (a believer that has sinned) that has been cut off from the Good Shepherd. If wild animals aka Satan the devourer and his agents sight such sheep in their fallen state, they devour it alive! But how does a believer get cut off from Christ? Definitely not by sinning as many believe. The Parable of the Lost Sheep shows us that the Lord our Shepherd is not in the business of disflocking, beating or abandoning His sheep that go astray or leaving us to the devices of the devourer. Galatians 5:4 tells us how to get cut off from Christ:

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace."

This is a picture of what is going on in many places of worship today. Believers are being taught that they can save themselves from their cast positions (overcome sin and right themselves before God by their own power) and escape the devourer if they tried hard enough!

Believers, by God's grace flee from any place where it is being taught that you have to do certain things by your own power in order to gain right-standing with God, enjoy the blessing or escape the devourer. Flee from those who tell you that you have to do certain things in order to get "re-righteous" when you sin.This is akin to a cast sheep trying to right itself. This is how to get cut off from Christ!

In Christ, our righteousness is from Christ's obedience (Romans 5:19) and it is an everlasting righteousness according to Hebrews 10. Our own "filthy rags" attempts at obeying the law to get right with God only serve to cut one off from Christ and here the devil can devour.

Is there a sin or addiction that you are trying to overcome? Do you feel jealous when good things happen to others and hate yourself for it? Are you having challenges believing that all you have to do is rest in Christ's love? Do you feel depressed, empty, suicidal and just don't know what to do? Stop trying to defeat such things by your efforts at obeying the law and rest in God's grace. In Him, despite your imperfect condition, there is no condemnation for you. Tell Him "Lord Jesus, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you."

With Christ as your righteousness, our Lord God isn't condemning you for your sins and addictions. How could He when His Spirit testifies to us in Hebrews 10: "their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more"? How could He when His heart is overflowing with love for you? How could He when it is said of Him in Matt. 1:21-

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Like a shepherd with his cast sheep, He will save you from your sins. THIS IS WHY HE CAME. He did not come to condemn you or demand obedience, restitution and fasts so that you can be right with God. He knows we can do nothing without him. He came to save His people from their sins.

Our Abba Father isn't judging you for not having a clear vision of His Kingdom either. Ask and as He did with Thomas, He will make things plain to you. He will give you reason to believe! Before you know it, His peace that surpasses all understanding will overshadow you!

Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG) - "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."