I’ll never forget that sign I used to see on the side of the road.
It said, “Livestock turns our green grass to gold.” As a young boy, I never gave much thought to why we fed our calves—only that they had mouths and an appetite. At some point though, I started connecting the dots.
Livestock facilitate a miraculous created process known as feed conversion.
And the Psalmist surely envisioned God’s people in much the same way as sheep who, on the one hand, enjoy the safety and provisions of life their Shepherd provides for them, yet understand inherently that there is an expectation as a result:
“Know that the LORD Himself is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” [Psa. 100:3]
But the idea of actually becoming productive in His “pasture” never occurred to me until I was much older. Every shepherd knows who his sheep are. However, some follow him more closely than others. These are the ones Jesus talked about having known on a higher level. [1]
God placed me in His pasture because He purchased me. Only He knows ALL the reasons for that happening. But one thing is certain: That transaction was made on the basis of my faith. It could never have happened unless I’d really believed what I’d heard or read. [Eph. 1:3-14]
My job to continue to believe [2] would seem to be just one more way of demonstrating productivity to the Master who bought me. Perhaps I could call that “eating well.” If I don’t do that, then the process of feed conversion will likely be compromised.
So what, you say?
Well, consider that a relational principle we hold dear is no less relevant to our Lord Himself—that is to say, status by ownership [or being a son] is neither questioned nor conditionally rewarded.
However, behavior, intent and productivity are. [see: Matt. 22:11-14, 25:28-30]
“For the Lord is good. His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.” [Psa. 100:5]