Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Bellwethers

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).

In turbulent times like these, you often hear the term ‘bellwether.’ Hundreds of years ago, a male sheep was known as a wether. If the sheepherder wanted it to lead the flock, he would tie a bell around the wether’s neck. In this way, the leader of a group came to be known as a bellwether.

In politics, a bellwether is a group of people whose voting patterns seem reflect the general populace. For example, Missouri is called a bellwether state, because in 100 years the candidate who won Missouri has almost always won the presidency. In the financial markets, a bellwether company is one whose stock performance tends to reflect the overall health of its industry. General Motors has been a bellwether company in the automotive industry. In society, bellwethers are those who set new trends; for example, Paris designers are a bellwether of the fashion industry.

As a predictor of trends, bellwethers can be useful. But as a setter of trends, bellwethers can be dangerous. Consider teens in high school. It only takes one popular guy to get a bunch of his friends hooked on taking drugs. It only takes one popular girl to sway a bunch of her friends into picking on someone who is shy. All of us are tempted to say and do nasty things, but we hold back for fear of being reprimanded. But when a bellwether leads the way we are quick to follow, because we can hide behind the excuse that it was someone else’s idea.

Jesus Christ is a bellwether in the best sense of the word. When we sin, we lose our focus on God and wander away from the path to heaven. Jesus is our bellwether; He gets our attention and leads us back in the right direction again. We hear the bell around His neck, a bell called the Bible; the words God has written there are pleasant to our ears and draw us to Jesus. He leads us through trouble and away from temptation; if we follow Him to the end of life, we will arrive safely at the gate of heaven.

Jesus wants you to be a bellwether too. He wants you to be an example that catches the attention of others and leads them in the right direction. Jesus said, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

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