Pearls of the Word

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Like sheep wandering away

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"For you were like sheep wandering away, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer [episkopos] of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25).

According to the dictionary, the verb 'wander' means 'walking aimlessly', but it also means 'to be in error', 'to be astray'. A characteristic of wandering is that everyone follows his own path (Isaiah 53:6). We have some examples during the period of the Judges in Israel, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6 and 21:25).

It was also our situation before knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Each one of us followed his own way. But now that He bore our iniquities, we listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow His way with an accurate purpose for our lives. This is why He has the episcopal office of taking care of our soul.