I purchased some sheep from a rancher in the adjoining county. At his ranch, I noticed that he had a small white puppy in the back of his pickup. His hair was white as snow and so soft, and every time you got close to him, he started wagging his tail.
I thought about it, and I had a special job in mind for him, so I made a trade for him.
At home I put him in a special pen with a doghouse, and I included a young lamb to be his friend. They have become inseparable friends, and I eventually turned them out with some other sheep.
You see, the special job I had for him was to be a guard dog that stays with and protects the sheep. Yes, it will be difficult and lonely.
Just as I had a special assignment for that young dog, God has a special job or assignment in mind for every Christian.
Christians can or should live in a way that honors the name of Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.(See also 1 Thessalonians 4:7-12) But for a few Christians it may be a very special assignments - for example, Moses. More examples from the Bible:
• The twelve disciples - Luke 6:12-13 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:...)
• Mary, the mother of Jesus - Luke 1:26-33 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
• John the Prophet, Jesus’ cousin - John 1:6-8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.)
• The Apostle Paul - Galatians 1:15-16 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
• and even angles - Luke 1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,...
See you in Church next Sunday.