To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:3-4
Unreliable, cold, fearful, nervous, agitable, stubborn, inflexible and skittish. These are just a few of the words used by shepherds to describe their flocks of sheep. The sheep are also one of the few animals who, if left on their own, would totally destroy their pasture. They scare easily and they require consistent and constant attention because they are apt to wander away. They get into dangerous situations and never learn from them.
In Biblical times however, the sheep were very important, they provided food and wool for clothing. The shepherd's life was not just to know his sheep, but to care and protect them. The shepherd would lead his sheep to pasture and water, he would tend to their wounds, calm them, guide and keep them together and rescue them from briars and pitfalls.
He did not regard his duties as just a job, no, the shepherd had a very unique relationship with his sheep. Jesus speaks of this very relationship in John 10.
Unreliable, cold, fearful, nervous, agitable, stubborn, inflexible and skittish. These are just a few of the words used by shepherds to describe their flocks of sheep. The sheep are also one of the few animals who, if left on their own, would totally destroy their pasture. They scare easily and they require consistent and constant attention because they are apt to wander away. They get into dangerous situations and never learn from them.
In Biblical times however, the sheep were very important, they provided food and wool for clothing. The shepherd's life was not just to know his sheep, but to care and protect them. The shepherd would lead his sheep to pasture and water, he would tend to their wounds, calm them, guide and keep them together and rescue them from briars and pitfalls.
He did not regard his duties as just a job, no, the shepherd had a very unique relationship with his sheep. Jesus speaks of this very relationship in John 10.
It wasn't uncommon for shepherds to bring their sheep into the same sheepfold at night, such as the one pictured to the left. There could be several flocks all housed together, yet when it was time to separate the sheep in the morning hours, all a good shepherd had to do, was to call his sheep to lead them out of the pen.
There is no question that Jesus is the Good Shepherd! The only question that remains is, "Do we know this Good Shepherd personally?" How you answer that question will determine where you will spend eternity! It will determine if you spend your eternity in Heaven or Hell.
There are some of you, who would say, "I will come to Jesus eventually..." I will stop you right there, you have no idea of what tomorrow will bring. To delay is dangerous, I believe it is Jesus, who even now is speaking and calling to you! My friend, tomorrow is not promised, will you hear the Shepherd's voice today?
This is my prayer for you today, to choose Jesus today. He is longing to pick you up and put you into His flock, where He will care for you and He will protect you. He will take you out of the briars and pull you up out of the pitfalls and He alone will forgive all the mistakes you have made.
Will you hear Him and answer Him even now?
There is no question that Jesus is the Good Shepherd! The only question that remains is, "Do we know this Good Shepherd personally?" How you answer that question will determine where you will spend eternity! It will determine if you spend your eternity in Heaven or Hell.
There are some of you, who would say, "I will come to Jesus eventually..." I will stop you right there, you have no idea of what tomorrow will bring. To delay is dangerous, I believe it is Jesus, who even now is speaking and calling to you! My friend, tomorrow is not promised, will you hear the Shepherd's voice today?
This is my prayer for you today, to choose Jesus today. He is longing to pick you up and put you into His flock, where He will care for you and He will protect you. He will take you out of the briars and pull you up out of the pitfalls and He alone will forgive all the mistakes you have made.
Will you hear Him and answer Him even now?
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