May 16: The good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep…  I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.  (John 10:11,14-16 — New King James Version)

Even in the Old Testament, God compares Himself to a good shepherd. In these verses Jesus says that He has come as the good shepherd — a shepherd that loves His sheep so much that He gives His life for them. Sheep are among the most helpless of animals. Some animals can care for themselves fairly well, but not sheep. They get lost and separated from the flock; they are helpless when attacked; they become sick and die without constant care from a shepherd; they eat food or drink water that will make them ill. This is why we are compared to sheep, and Jesus to a good shepherd. We need Him to guide, heal, protect, and constantly care for us. We must listen to His voice and follow Him; that is our part — the rest He will do for us.

While Jesus was on earth He worked among the Jews — calling them to Himself. But here He speaks of other sheep that He must bring to join His flock. By this He means people of all other nations who will hear His voice. Our race or nationality does not matter — what matters is that we listen to the Shepherd's voice and follow Him. He laid down His life on the cross, and continues to lay down His life for us by caring for, healing, protecting, and strengthening us — His flock.

Humanity is in desperate need of Jesus. No one can make it alone; no one will survive without Him. Anyone who thinks they have no need of Jesus has been blinded and deceived by the devil. In the Old Testament God spoke as a shepherd: “I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out…  so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them…  I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick.” (Ezekiel 34:11)

Do you hear God’s voice? Some say God doesn’t speak to them, but that’s impossible. God speaks to everyone — His sheep and those who are not His sheep. Notice that this verse speaks about God’s sheep hearing His voice. When we are His, we hear Him. When we are not, He speaks but we do not hear. And remember, at this time in history we are being bombarded by messages and information like never before, and it’s so easy for God’s voice to be drowned out by all the other voices. — Refuse to accept that and train yourself to identify the Good Shepherd’s voice.