PASTOR’S PONDERINGS MAY 2025

Pastor’s Ponderings –

Do you like analogies? I was thinking of one as I was preparing for last week’s sermon: Probably 40 years ago, I worked for a seed corn company.  One of my responsibilities was to distribute seed corn and beans to all of my seed dealers in the spring of the year.  One day as I was driving, I saw something that I have never forgotten.  A big goose was walking towards the pond with what looked like an intention to go for a swim.  Now that’s no big deal you may say to yourself.  The goose was doing what comes naturally to him.  But this was a farm goose, not a wild goose, walking towards the family’s farm pond with about twenty sheep following him.  (Have you ever seen sheep swim…with a thick wool coat?)  I often wondered how that turned out.  Sheep will follow about anything once it gains their trust.  “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 NASV

We’ve looked at the dangers of false teaching and the false teacher.  It is all around us.  We must not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye.  We must be on our guard as discerning Christians.  Jude 20 reminds us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”  NASV  Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”  So how are we to walk then?  Well, if God has called us to be sheep, then be a sheep, but don’t follow the wrong master.  As His sheep, we have no business following the goose to go for a swim.  The farm pond is no place for us sheep; I don’t care how good the goose can swim.  Psalm 100:3 reminds us “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  No matter how much the goose may try to teach us how to swim. It’s never gonna be right for us.  Ephesians 4:1 says, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” 

We must be on our guard.  We must be careful how we walk and where we walk.  We must be careful who and what we let teach us.  Discerning all the while:  Is what we are hearing lining up with what the Word of God says?  If it doesn’t line up, then maybe we’re in the wrong pasture.  Oh, and stay out of the farm pond, you’ll sink like a rock!

Preaching Christ crucified, together with you, dear friends,

lifting high the Word of God, lift high the Cross.

Pastor Steve