Discipleship Living

Peter gives us 6 excellent similes’ of being a disciple.
Simile – a symbol, imagery, allusions, allegory. Thus:

1) As new born babes – 1 Peter 2:2.
2) As obedient children – 1 Peter 1:14.
3) As living stones – 1 Peter 2:5.
4) As strangers and pilgrims – 1 Peter 2:11.
5) As good stewards – 1 Peter 4:10.
6) As sheep going astray – 1 Peter 2:25.

Note –
1) Sheep are neither swift, nor strong or smart! The wolf catches them! Sheep can be quite dumb in their actions! If there is a hole in the wall one goes through it and the rest tend to follow! So once a sheep is away from the fold it is generally at the mercy of its foe or foes. The devil (our foe) and his demons (our foes) are out to make us stumble etc. Unbelievers are also our foes; a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
2) Sheep tend to have problems finding their way home unlike the sheep dog. However, sheep and even the sheep dog need a Shepherd. Peter writes that we have returned unto our Shepherd. He found the lost and brought them home. Our Lord then is our Great High Priest, Saviour and Shepherd. He is the one who guard, guides and grows us. The battle belongs to Him, He ever lives to intercede for us. In Him we live and move and have our being.
3) In the O.T. the sheep was slain for the shepherd and all Israel, as we reflect on the blood-stained altars of His ancient people. We now in the N.T. see the reverse where the Shepherd of God was slain for the sheep of the world, Jew and Gentile. This then is the great message of Calvary (Golgotha’s Hill). We return to the Great Shepherd through our sins being forgiven
‘For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’
John 1:14.

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