Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Are You A Bell Sheep?



A few weeks ago I started reading Elizabeth George's book, Raising a Daughter After God's Own Heart.  In the very first chapter she refers to mothers as being the bell sheep for their daughters.   I confess, I had never heard of a bell sheep until that moment.  Maybe some of you haven't either.  Let me explain.  When a shepherd noticed a sheep who willingly followed him and stayed near him, he hung a bell around the neck of that sheep so the flock would follow the bell sheep...who, in turn, was following the shepherd.  Of course, we are the sheep and Christ is the Shepherd.  Now that we know what a bell sheep is let's explore three questions.  Are you a bell sheep, how to be a bell sheep and why should we be a bell sheep.

Are you a bell sheep?  
I can't answer that question for you.  Examine yourself, your actions, your motives, and your heart.  Are you loving the things of this world (1 John 2:15) when you should be loving the things of God (Deut. 6:5)?  Are we teaching our daughters, by example and by words?

How to be a bell sheep?  
Instructing her in God's ways
Have daily Bible time with her
Encouraging her to have a quiet time
Pray for her
ABOVE ALL:  Live a life that brings honor and glory to God

Why should we be a bell sheep?
The answer is to point our daughters to Christ.  Is it not our desire for our daughters to grow into godly women. Women who will love the Lord with all their hearts, minds, and souls. (Matt.22:37)  Women who will be godly wives and mothers.  Women who's lives will glorify God and be a testimony to lost world.
Ladies, let's be that bell sheep, let's lead our daughters to Jesus and teach them His ways for the furtherance of God's kingdom.
Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

2 comments:

  1. Wow. Had not heard of a bell sheep. Want to be one. Such powerful pictures. Thank you, Missy
    Carol Scovel

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  2. The image of a bell sheep is a powerful one. And I believe the goal of being one is ongoing and shifting as I share myself with my growing daughters. Beautiful post. THank you.

    (visiting from Raising Homemakers' Homemaking Link-Up)

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