God’s Mission
John 10:1-6
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
The gatekeeper opens the gate for [the Shepherd of the sheep], and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
~ Jesus, John 10:3
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Pondering Point
Read John 10:1-6. As God’s sheep, we have a shepherd (Jesus) who speaks to us and leads those willing to follow. There are multiple reasons to heed the voice of our Shepherd: He leads the sheep out to find both food and water (Psalm 23:1-2), brings them safely back home (Luke15:5-6) and protects them from danger in between (Psalm 23:3-6).
Jesus is more than capable of taking care of His sheep among even the most dreadful enemy (Psalm 23:5). Sadly though, sheep can either refuse to follow or might get ‘beyond earshot’ spiritually – i.e. unable to hear His voice. This can quickly lead to sheep falling prey to the schemes of the enemy – who is seeking someone to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). Hence the description of sinners as “sheep that have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6).
That brings us to the greater work of our shepherd King Jesus. He doesn’t just watch over and feed us. He puts his life on the line for us as he said in John 10:15. But it is in Hebrews 2:14-15 that we get the fuller description of his life-giving purpose:
Hebrews 2:14-15
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Death is but one fear, one anxiety that hangs over people. Many of us have multiple anxieties and fears that plague us, but Jesus comes to deliver us from all of them as well as the power of death and the devil. Our Lord encourages us to cast our cares upon him (1 Peter 5:7) and to not be anxious about anything but instead turn to God in prayer over it (Philippians 4:6-7).
Let your Shepherd care for you. Stop and listen for his voice – not with your physical ears but with your spiritual ears.
Prayer for the Day
Holy Spirit, help me discern that voice of my Shepherd Jesus, to listen and follow. Teach me how to cast all my cares on Him and how to let Him relieve me of all anxiety. These are gifts of God I want enjoy in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Journal Prompt:
What specific fears and anxieties would you like
Jesus to alleviate? Write them down for addition
into your daily prayer composition.
Matthew 20:6-7
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
Matthew 20:6-7
6 About five in the afternoon he (the vineyard owner) went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’