Read it: Acts 2:42 NLT, Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
Live it:
Occasionally, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons as to why she does this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind.
These little lambs will hang their heads so low it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken.
These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die– rejected and alone. So, what does the shepherd do?
He takes the little rejected lamb into his home, hand feeds it, and keeps it warm by the fire. He wraps it up with blankets and holds it to his chest so that the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place him back in the field with the rest of the flock.
But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first?
There are two lessons here: be careful that we don’t make “bummer lambs” out of baby Christians; two, let us look to the Bible for people who modeled encouragement. One example is Barnabus, who was known to be an encourager (Acts 4:36; 11:23).
Ps. Gary