I often feel that I am making extremely slow progress in my Christian walk. I always seem to be stumbling repeatedly into the same sins, which always makes me feel so worth­less. I don't feel good about myself during these reoccurring times of weakness, and I am always tempted to conclude that Jesus "doesn't feel good about me, either." After all, I am succumbing to willful sin, and even though I want to be obedient, I just can't seem to get over the "hump" of permanent victory. 

And so it was that a little while ago, when I was once more in this sad state whereby I was only "inching" my way towards Zion, that I got dis­couraged, and thought for sure that Jesus was going to finally give up on me completely, since I was moving ahead so very slowly in my Christian walk. After all, when I looked around me, several of my friends seemed to be just zooming ahead in their ministries, their studies and their accomplishments, while I had very little to show for all these years as a follower of Christ.

But then I was rereading the story of Jacob when he was returning to his homeland with his large flocks and many children, and his brother Esau had come out to meet him. Although Esau had initially been angry with his brother, they were reconciled, and now Esau was inviting Jacob to speed along towards the town of Seir. This is what happened: 

"Then Esau said, 'Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you.' But Jacob said to him, 'My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of my servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.'"  Genesis 33:13,14

As I read this passage, I suddenly saw that hidden in this story is a beautiful parable about Jesus and I, for I am like one of those tender little lambs who move ever so slowly, and Jesus is my Jacob, the "Slow Walking shepherd." No matter how slow I go in my Christian walk, Jesus will simply "go slower," because he is committed to bringing me safely into his Father's Heavenly pasture. Isaiah testifies of this, for he says: "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11 

Jesus is not about to let me get left behind, for Scripture wonderfully reassures us, "this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me,"  John 6:39  And so it is that Jesus "slows way down" for every one of his sheep that is part of his flock.

Let this story of Jacob reassure us all that when Jesus comes again in the clouds of glory, no one is going to get left behind who belongs to him. When the world ends in it's fiery death, Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd, John 10:14  will stand before our God and say "My father, I have brought in ALL your sheep: not a single one has been lost or left behind  -- not even slow walking Eugene."

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