“I am the Good Shepherd ; I know my own sheep and they know me.” John 10:14 (NLT)
Jesus, the Good Shepard. He knows each one by name. He leads them to pastures. He is the gate and through Him all are saved. They come and go freely finding good pastures. Jesus purpose is to give life, rich and satisfying. He willingly sacrificed His life. He protects and cares for each one.
A parable of Jesus care, protection and provision for those who trust and follow Him. He knows my name! He cares about when I come and when I go. He not only provides for me, but His provision is life giving and eternal. I can and do trust Him. I know His voice and I follow His leading.
I think for some it may be difficult to understand the goodness of Christ because of what we see happening around us. But, that is the very reason He came. There is a real and evil enemy who works to destroy lives, to cause division, to turn us to hate, to bring despair and hopelessness. Verse 10 says “the thief’ purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.” Sometimes I want to ask God “Why?” But today I am reminded why, the power of evil is at work destroying lives, leading us to hopelessness, causing brother to turn against brother and wanting us to believe it’s all Gods fault.
There is no promise that life with Christ here on this earth will be easy. But, He does promise He will never leave us and He will walk with us. When I put my hope in His eternal promise, all the difficulties of this life become insignificant. I look to His Word and listen for His voice. He comforts me, he provides for me and He protects me.
I pray today for a fresh perspective. I want to see His presence and work happening in my life and all around me. Lord, help me to see where you are moving, where you bring provision and offer hope. Lead me and use me to bring life, hope, and love to those in my family, my church and in my community. Amen.
What is God speaking to you today in chapter 10 of John? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I have always had a special place in my heart for this chapter. As a child growing up in Sunday school I loved the painting on the wall of Jesus carrying the lamb, leading the flock with his staff and rod. It gave me comfort seeing him as a GOOD Shepherd.
As an adult, I am still his little sheep. I am so thankful that He knows me, even knows my name and everything about me. He watches me and never leads me astray. I am prone to wander, get distracted, and get lost if I don’t stay in close communication with Him and obediently follow Him. When I do, I am safe and secure and at peace in His loving care, no matter what the circumstances I find myself in. I experience abundant life (Green pastures and streams of water, and feel connected with the rest of His flock, I am not alone, but part of the Bodyof Christ and sense how I fit in, what His purpose is for me.
V 14-15. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Just as the Father knows Me and I know the father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.“ v 27 “ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.“ This speaks to me and challenge me! I must listen to his voice. That is my job and privilege. Only by your Holy Spirit can I know You And do you going to lay down my life for others.
Lord help me to grow in my desire to HEAR you and to DISCERN your voice from all the other voices that are out there clamoring for my attention. Help me to say NO to the enemy, ( the wolf) who is constantly at work trying to deceive me and lead me astray. Help me to put my full trust in You alone, to read and APPLY your a Word so I will not be deceived by the lies of the enemy who uses people, confusion in the world, distractions, or whispers into my thoughts bringing fear and discouragement. And help me Lord not to listen to my own fleshly desires and act on them.
Thank you Lord that You said, v 28 “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.“ Thank you that you made that so clear and I can rest in that assurance!!!
Wonderfully said Gretchen. Like you, my mind travels back to my early childhood. Being fourth generation in the Kannapolis Foursquare Church (also renamed GRACE COVENANT), I remember similar pictures as I sat beside my grandmother as she read this passage to me. She instilled that Jesus is my very best friend no matter what or who comes in and out of my life.
She would often remind me that Jesus MY SHEPHERD was with me after having nightmares, or when it was my dad’s weekend to take me with him. I knew at a very early age I could trust Him, because I was His little lamb, a d He was my Shepard.
I was taught to memorize many verses from this passage and the 23rd Psalm before I was four years old.
Later ( in my 30’s ), those words gave me hope, strength. and assurance when delivering a word (God would not let me off from to a person for whom I had been hand picked by God during one of the district women’s retreat at Myrtle Beach, SC , to be her special confidante, prayer warrior, and apprentice; an Elisha type ), I did everything short of getting on a boat to Tarsus. However, after much prayer and fasting, I went to my pastor’s wife to deliver what I knew God wanted me to say. After I spoke what the Holy, Spirit gave me words to say, she jumped up,came at me pointing her finger and said: ” You are a sheep! Always have been, always will be nothing but a sheep. You therefore as a sheep cannot bring such a rebuke to me a pastor of this flock, in this church body. I felt horrible and belittled in that moment. But as I got into my car, MY SHEPHERD spoke to me. He said, you are My lamb, and you have obeyed Me. War on you has been declared by Jezebel. Thus, you will be carried on My shoulders through the battles to come, but your call to intercede for her shall remain on you as long as your days on this Earth. ”
The Good SHEPHERD has never let me down as long as I allow His rod and staff to lead me. What she said to me that day was meant to wound and belittle me, but she gave me the best name ever! I am the sheep of His pasture. I know His voice, and He knows me!
Amen, and Amen!!
Robin Foil
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
There is nothing like our Father’s voice and to know that He knows me and I follow after Him. His voice is sometimes like a whisper and I really have to listen for it. Other times it has been clear as day. He knows me by name. He knows all there is to know about me. My hopes and dreams as well as my fears and doubts. I choose to follow Him. It’s a daily choice we have to make to pick up the cross and follow after Him. But today and forever, I am so thankful to be a sheep of the Heavenly Father.
John 10:4 and 5 They follow him because they know is voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.
Lord, Help me to to only follow your voice because that’s the one I know. I don’t want to follow Satan’s voice because that’s the stranger’s voice. Help me to daily walk and talk with you so I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am hearing only your voice. Thank you Jesus for speaking to me today.
“They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.””
John 10:33 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/jhn.10.33.nlt
The unbelief in this statement I mind blowing to me!
This is what happens when things don’t “look” exactly like we think they should.
In their minds the Messiah would definitely have a different appearance than just a “mere man.”
They weren’t listening, only looking.
Dear Lord help me to hear & see, not just one or the other!