John 10:7-18 – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
“So you follow Jesus? Why do you do that? If you can give me one good reason I will give my life to Him.”
“Well, He is my shepherd that loves me and takes care of me. He leads to areas of blessings and He watches over me on every path. He provides food, blessing and cool drink for me. He gives me a safe place to rest, and keeps guard over me during the night. I have no fear at night because He stands guard over me. Really I am in peace.”
“Before I knew Him as my Shepherd, before He took over as my Savior, my Guardian and my Master I had fear about my eternal future. No I sleep in deep peace and rest without worry.”
“Previously I trusted only on the goodness of mankind and the system of mankind in the world. I had fears of my future and confusion on where and how to walk. I worried about the things of life. Really, I had no security but myself and honestly I often thought about how insufficient I was in so many ways. Really, disaster who had my name on his list, I was powerless against. Sure, no one knew I worried. I didn’t look afraid. But I was both. I was ripe for the picking by evil. That was a scary thought I just tried to avoid thinking about.”
The Good Shepherd gave me the message of loving me and taking care of me. He said to follow Him and my future would be safe. So I did and you know all His promises? Day by day He has shown He is faithful in every way. He loved me before I knew Him and He proves it to me every day as His blessings are fresh every morning. And what is crazy, this physically invisible Shepherd lets me see Him every day and has taught me to hear His voice. So when He says He died for me, more and more I know that is true because more and more I know who and what He is. I trust Him more and more. I now know without a doubt He loves me and is absolutely trustworthy. I am not afraid. I’m not worried. He is always with me and taking care of me. Always. I live in peace. For me, trusting the Good Shepherd is absolutely the best and only way to live.”
“Father God has always known the Son and the Son has always known Him and the Son is my Shepherd. The Son not only would die for me but He already has. That’s why I love and serve the Shepherd who has, before I was born, loved and served me. Let men choose to live as they decide. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
“So do you want to give your life to the Good Shepherd?”
“Well, you cheated, you gave me more than one reason! Let’s talk about it some more. I feel like a fish being reeled in.”
“Okay, let’s see if the Fisher of Men, who is the Good Shepherd, can finish reeling you.
“I think I like that, let’s do that.”
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.