By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Most of us know those opening lines. What many of us may not know is why the little lamb followed Mary everywhere.
The complete nursery rhyme gives us the answer. When the children ask, “What makes the lamb love Mary so?” their teacher explains, “Mary loves the lamb, you know.” Mary’s kindness created confidence, confidence produced trust, and trust made the little lamb want to remain near her.
Apparently, Mary understood something many modern leaders have forgotten: harshness may make people move, but kindness makes them want to follow. That raises a question: what “kind” of Christian have you become or are becoming? Lamb-like or wolf-like?
Wolf-like influencers seem to wear wool and say, “I’m a Christian!” yet lack the goodness of Mary’s little lamb or the true commitment, character, and conduct of the Chief and Good Shepherd. They are “possessed,” all right, just by another breath or spirit other than the Son of God. As a result, Jesus cautioned:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.”
~ Matthew 7:15–16 ~
Some voices appear gentle while concealing harmful intentions. Others speak loudly about liberty, truth, and even God, yet produce anger, fear, contempt, and division.
It is much like the difference between a fire without a fireplace and a fireplace without a fire.
Truth without grace can become a fire without a fireplace — uncontained, harsh, and destructive (bad fruit). On the other hand, what appears to be grace without truth can become a fireplace without a fire — pleasant to look at, perhaps, but unable to provide light, heat, or reassurance (bad fruit).
Jesus brings the two together.
His truth burns brightly, but His grace gives that truth a place where people can draw near, find warmth, and become free without being consumed. In Jesus, truth does not destroy grace, and grace does not dilute truth. They belong together because they flow from the same heart – will and spirit.
We live in what we proudly call the land of the free. It is a wonderful ideal and certainly worth protecting. Yet our land can also become remarkably harsh. Voices grow louder. Anger becomes entertainment. Contempt masquerades as courage. Winning becomes more important than becoming — and sometimes those claiming to defend freedom begin behaving unlike the One who makes us truly free.
Perhaps the land of the free needs to rediscover the Lamb of the Free.
Interestingly, Revelation describes Jesus as both the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb who was slain. John is told to look for the victorious Lion, but when he looks, he sees the Lamb.
Paradoxically, how wonderfully weird is that?
Jesus isn’t a Lion one day and a Lamb the next. Instead, He is the conquering Lion, whose strength is demonstrated through the Lamb’s sacrifice. In Him, courage and kindness are united. Truth and grace coexist within the same integrated heart, or, better yet, soul — heart, mind, and body mingling with the person you are or have become.
This is why alertness matters.
Alertness is not suspicion, paranoia, or a constant search for enemies. It is the cultivated ability to look beneath appearances, such as power, fame, wealth, or status, and to examine the fruit being produced. A wolf may wear wool. A destructive message may carry a Bible, wave a flag, and use all the right religious language. Eventually, however, its fruit reveals its nature.
Jesus does not tell us to recognize false prophets by their popularity, personality, promises, platform, or political party. He tells us to recognize them by their fruit.
- Do their words produce true love (unwavering commitment to GOODNESS) or deep malice?
- Is their courage (lion-like) linked to the Lamb, or are they contemptuous, in bed with the wolves?
- Does their freedom contain (self-control) their passions, or does fear manipulate (burn) the souls of those who trust them?
- Do they prove what they say through arrogance or test their conduct with humility?
- Are they about reconciling differences or about creating resentment and bitterness to further their agendas?
- Do they help people become the “kind” of Christian the faith requires, like Jesus (Lion & Lamb), or make them angrier at non-believers, hating opponents or enemies?
Mary’s little lamb followed her because it trusted her kindness. We follow the Lamb of God because we can trust His character and want to be the “kind” child of God He is.
So, stay alert. Look beneath the wool. Examine the fruit. Do not be fooled by a roar that lacks the Lamb’s character — or by soft clothing concealing a wolf’s appetite.
Mary had a little lamb that followed her everywhere. We have the Lamb of God, and we are called to follow Him everywhere — even through the increasingly harsh terrain of the land of the free.
Ultimately, freedom isn’t just about the land we inhabit. Genuine freedom comes from following the Lamb. So, may the Lamb of God steer your heart and actions in the Land of the Free, inspiring others to follow you as you follow the Lamb of the Free, empowered by Jesus and the trait of Alertness.
As always — God is here. God is able. God is good.
I’ll be continuing this conversation later this week on the Just Sayin’ podcast, where we’ll take a deeper look at The Alertness Weapon: The Lamb of the Free.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but we support the author’s constitutional right to express those opinions.