Here is the text of the letter I sent (sorry about the text being so squished…I had to edit the original lesson a bit and minimize spacing to fit most of the devotional):
Dear Friend, I recently read this lesson about why God compares us to sheep in the Bible. Since I have never cared for sheep, I found it very interesting and learned a lot.
"In one of Jesus' parables, He says if a man owned 100 sheep, he would willingly leave 99 of them to find the one that's lost. And when he finds the lost sheep, "he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost" (Matthew 8:13-14). Even before Jesus tells this story to explain how much God loves us, there are many times in the Bible where humans are compared to sheep. Being a sheep isn't all warm and fuzzy. Sheep are afraid of rushing water because they can easily drown. They have no natural protection like other animals—such as quills, claws, defensive scent or sharp teeth. They don't smell that great. However, God had a reason for comparing us to sheep. Take a closer look at how we are like sheep and how God is our perfect Shepherd.
Without a shepherd, sheep wander aimlessly. We do that, too. Isaiah 53:6 says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray." When we don't follow God's commandments, we get into trouble. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:14). He leads us away from danger and toward what is good. John 10:27 says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
Sheep are totally dependent on the shepherd for protection. They also need him to lead them to good pastures and safe water. Similarly, God provides all our needs. He gives us skills and strength so we can work. God cares for every detail of our lives. As it says in Isaiah 40:11, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart."
Psalm 23:2 says, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." Just like sheep are afraid of rushing water, we can become anxious when life gets bumpy. By praying to God and reading His Word, we can draw close to the Good Shepherd and find peace. Sheep love lying down with a full belly, just as God designed us to enjoy peaceful rest.
In Genesis 22, we read about God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. When Isaac asked about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb." Some scholars believe this verse means, "God will provide himself as a lamb." That's what He did by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, as the offering for the world's sins. When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he shouted, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
Starting in Matthew 25:31, Jesus tells of when He'll return again to earth. Instead of coming as a baby, He'll come in all His glory with a host of angels. And He'll "separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:32). Then He'll invite the sheep" into His kingdom to enjoy eternal life."
Love, Hannah
Feel free to copy and paste this letter to your kids also!
