"For you were continually straying like sheep,

but now you have returned to the 

Shepherd and Guardian

of your souls."

I Peter 2:25

Some are more comfortable with

the verse of a well known hymn that says, 

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,

Wandering from the fold of God."

Yet this verse of Scripture does not set this forth as a description of how things should be, contrary to Urban Legend of a wandering theology that embraces a bent to running from God. 

Yes, since the Garden, humans have had a bent to sin.  However, Christ came to change that. As His sheep, we have returned to our Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, not to keep straying as a daily experience.  What kind of Shepherd or Guardian, or Overseer would Christ be if that was the constant urge of his flock?  He laid down His life for His sheep so that they would stay in the fold.  He leads us to green pastures and beside the still waters.  He restores our soul so that we would not wander.  

Yes, He told the parable of the one who did wander.  He left the 99 sheep who obediently stayed in the fold so that He could seek and save the lost lamb. It is not a picture of a whole flock ready to bolt at the slightest chance of escape.  If so, He would have come back to an empty fold with only the one He had diligently sought and brought back.

There is the accurate description of a shepherd who physically becomes the gate of the sheepfold.  Out on the wilds of green pastures, it is not always possible to build a gate.  So at night the shepherd himself lies in the gap to preserve the safety of his flock, to keep out the predators and to keep in his sheep.  This is the image of the one who laid down His life for His sheep.

Have you as a parent ever had the experience of trying to block a determined toddler from escaping in order to keep them safe?  If they step to the right, you step to block their escape route.  Likewise, if they step to their left you hop over with a stance of feet wide apart and arms out ready to capture a determined little billy goat.  It usually ends with a parent swooping up their willful child, spinning them around until both are caught up in the laughter of love.  Fortunately, the little ones usually grow out of this type of action as they grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Adam Clarke describes it like this, "Ye were like stray sheep, in the wilderness of ignorance and sin, till Christ, the true and merciful Shepherd, called you back from your wanderings, by sending you the Gospel of His grace...Jesus Christ is the Overseer of souls; He has them continually under His eye; He knows their wants, wishes, dangers, etc., and provides for them.  As their shepherd, he leads them to the best pastures, defends them from their enemies, and guides them by His eyes.  Jesus is the good Shepherd that laid down His life for His sheep.  All human souls are inexpressibly dear to Him, as they are the purchase of His blood."

Don't trod the precious blood of Christ under the foot of your little hooves rebelling against His love and care for you while calling yourself one of His flock.  It only takes a dead sheep to become the covering for a wolf who seeks to devour the lambs.