“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21

The comparison of sheep tendencies and the tendencies of us, God’s Sheep, is revealed in how we interact with each other as we grow in grace and knowledge. The great Shepherd knows all the sheep grow at different levels and different ways so He deals with each as needed. Some are ready to be “show sheep” while others struggle to stay with the flock, but in every case the Shepherd tenderly cares for each one where they are in their progress.

Among the sheep, we can be very harsh to each other based on our differing levels of growth. We must learn to look beyond actions and words to see the heart of each sheep. As a body of Christ, we have enough criticism from the world around us, we don’t need it from each other. We are to encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11) and consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25)