Devotion – Sheep & Goats

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these

brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The G.O.A.T, the “Greatest of All Time.” Do you know who the G.O.A.T. is? (It’s Bo Jackson. Or Michael Phelps. Or Caitlin Clark. Or…)

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Before, no one wanted to be associated with goats. Someone could get your goat, and irritate you to no end. You might feel a bit worn down, like an old goat. You might even take all the blame unfairly as a scapegoat. But the worst wrap goats get is given by the Good Shepherd himself in Matthew 25 when He describes the righteous as sheep and the condemned as goats. A bit gruff, amirite?

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Nowadays, to be the G.O.A.T. is a good thing, an informally honorary title. And this label isn’t limited to just professional athletes or sports, it can be about anything! In this way, the seemingly singular “greatest” is really just one of many, even within the same domain; incredibly subjective, there aren’t a lot of clearcut parameters for what constitutes someone as being a G.O.A.T. If used sincerely, the label is mostly about being seen as formidable, talented, accomplished. Someone to be recognized. Someone who changes the landscape. Someone who stands out for the better.

Can we rectify this caprine boldness with Christ’s metaphor of sheep being the good ones; sheep, the quintessential conformist, wussy creature of God’s creation? Well, yes, as this is a shortsighted view. Sheep aren’t weak or ineffectual, they are evolved to protect each other as flocks. They don’t have claws, they don’t have teeth, they don’t have horns. They work with what they’ve got and rely on each other–and if lucky, a (good) shepherd–to ensure survival. Sheep have to have faith, courage, and selflessness about them to live this way. They must provide for each other, even the least among them, or they do not thrive.

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May we at Wesley Freedom each be G.O.A.T.s in how we treat the least among us. Please pray for our Youth Ministries Serves 7-9th graders trip to Baltimore this Saturday and for the middle schoolers and high schoolers who have been responding to more calls for service this year.

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HS Trip to Philadelphia Nov. 14. MS Trip to Baltimore Dec. 5. wesleyfreedom.org/youth