Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Adrian and Shadrac paced back and forth keeping an eye out for any of the sheep that might be inclined to stray. They also kept checking the condition of the skies overhead. The clouds had been gathering all morning and were beginning to look dark and melancholy. 

     "Sure hope we don't get a drenching," Shadrac muttered.

    "That's why we brought these along. " Adrian grinned as he unrolled his lightweight poncho and shook it out. 

       Meanwhile Shadrac was noticing some unusual activity on the far side of the flock. He frowned. A wily, shiftless vagabond had been frequenting their valley lately. He had just started raising a batch of orphaned wolves from puppyhood and it hadn't taken any effort on his part to teach them to run off with a newborn lamb even before their own fur had completely lost its downy softness. 

       Wolves were generally wary, with good reason, of shepherds, but not these since they had been hand -raised by a human. 

      "Can you see the restlessness among the sheep over yonder?" Shadrac asked.

       Adrian paused while tying his navy blue hood and glanced over to where his buddy was pointing. 

      "That rascal," he grumbled. "Ever since Old Vag" (the vagabond) "has been lurking around we have been having more trouble with the sheep. Do you see what he is doing?"

       Old Vag was tying a sheep fleece around each of the young dogs and was coaxing them to mingle with the sheep. 

      While Adrian and Shadrac jogged across the wildflower meadow they repeatedly blew a warning on their whistles. The sheep looked up and some of the older ones, in particular huddled closer together for protection. But some of them didn't. Meanwhile Old Vag faded into the shadowy trees behind him.

    "Look at Mischief and Twinky," Adrian groaned. They were obviously curious about the strange 'sheep' and were inclined to ignore the shrill call to flee. 

      Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He wants to protect us from the dangerous wolves that want to remove us from the safety of our Heavenly father's care. What are some of the tactics Satan used to deceive us and draw us away from the fold?