My sister has a border collie named Sweep who was born to herd sheep. He comes from a very prestigious family of sheep herders who have won multiple awards and competitions over the year. You can see it in Sweep's make up. He's fast - so fast! - and strong, and super driven. He watches any form of movement around him intently, and is incredibly responsive to your own body movement and directions. I love to "dance" with him - running and jumping around, sweeping my arms in different directions and watching as he responds and runs and moves around me as a result.

But Sweep has never seen a single sheep in his life.

He's seen Bob the llama at camp and was very intrigued. We were still a quarter mile away and as soon as he noticed the animal in the field moving, he lay flat on the ground (a classic border collie move to put pressure on the moving animal), head pointed straight at Bob.

Then crept forward veeeeery slowly.

Bob was very intrigued as well. Once we got close enough, he came charging over to the fence line. Sweep started barking. Bob did not back down. So rest assured, the safety of Houston the mini pony is in good hands with Bob.

But Sweep has never seen a sheep.

This is a fact that occasionally makes my family sad. We talk about what it would be like to bring Sweep to a farm. To introduce him to sheep. And to let him off his leash and watch him run - fly! - at top speed to chase distant sheep in from the field.

It would be glorious. And beautiful. Because that is what Sweep was made to do.

Our lives are like Sweep. We were born for a specific purpose. We were made to live for and worship and follow God. And when we do - oh how beautiful and glorious it is!

A life spent following the call of Christ is a life that is NEVER wasted.

So let this be an encouragement for you today in your life. Continue on. Continue following Jesus. Follow him into uncomfortable situations, into moments of sacrifice, into scary places, into obscurity, into weakness. Follow him knowing this is what you were made for, and goodness and glory for the Kingdom will flow from a life spent following his call.

Follow him as intently as Sweep follows all moving creatures.

Follow him to the end.

And trust that in those moments where your instincts betray you, where the old sinner breaks through, that you have a patient father who is creating you anew through the grace and mercy of his son Jesus and the working of his Spirit in your life and soul, and he will not rest until you have become who you were meant to be.

Who he MADE you to be.