Learning to Listen To His Voice

In review of John 10:14 it says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me.”

Bottom Line:

Jesus is the good shepherd, He knows who is His sheep.

What this means to me:

Jesus is the good shepherd, He knows me and I know Him.

Today's verse comes from the first half of John 10 where Jesus explains the concept of a  good shepherd and his relationship to sheep. A good shepherd doesn't need to sneak over the wall, rather he enters the gates and calls his sheep. They recognize his voice and follow him. Jesus goes onto to explain how a good shepherd will sacrifice his life for his sheep. A hired hand will run when danger comes as he only works for money and doesn't really care about the sheep.

Jesus then tells us he is the good shepherd; He knows his sheep, and they know Him, just as God the Father knows Him and He knows the Father. Jesus says that He sacrifices his life for the sheep. Also, he has other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold yet. He wants to bring them in as well. They will listen to His voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

In contrast to the thief who takes life, Jesus gives life. The life he gives us right now is abundantly rich and full. It is eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of his overflowing forgiveness, love and guidance.

A hired hand will tend sheep for money, while the good shepherd does it out of love. The good shepherd owns the sheep and is committed to them. Jesus is not merely doing a job; he is committed to love us and even lay down his life for us. False teachers and false prophets do not this commitment.

The Other sheep that Jesus mentions were non-Jews. Jesus came to save Gentiles as well as Jews. This is an insight into his worldwide mission; to die for the sins of the world. People tend to want to restrict God's blessing to their own group, but Jesus refuses to be limited by the fences we build.

God Almighty, the Creator of the heaven and earth, wrote the Bible to give me an inside peek at who He is and what He’s all about. His detailed love-letter invites me to know Him on an intimate level and be His ambassador to the world. The more I know about Him, the deeper my relationship with Him and the more I can share His love with others.

Not a moment slips by that I am not at the forefront of God’s mind. But do I really know the sound of His voice? Do I listen when He leads me down paths of righteousness? Learn to Listen? He might just be leading me out of harm’s way.