Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 5-6; John 10
Devotional Thought:
Jesus just finished describing Himself as the Light of the world. He was confronting the Pharisees regarding their lost condition, confronting their self-righteous approach to life. Now He is going to use an illustration that all Jews could understand and certainly relate. Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd who comprehends (knows) His sheep, calls His sheep, and cares for His sheep. The shepherd calls his sheep and they follow his voice because his voice is recognized and familiar. A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep, but the sheep will not follow a stranger. Jesus told the Pharisees, “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (vs. 8-9) The Good Shepherd is willing to give His life for the sheep, but those who seek to steal (the hireling) will flee, and sacrifice the sheep, when trouble comes. Jesus said, “The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” (vs. 13) In verse 16, Jesus expands His teaching beyond that of the Jews and gives a glimpse of His program for the Gentiles. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” One day in heaven, we shall all be gathered together in the presence of our Good Shepherd who gave His life and made heaven possible for all redeemed people from every dispensation. What a wonderful promise in verse 28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Just as there were blind individuals in Jesus day, there are blind people today rejecting the word of God, the works of God, and the will of God. The god of this world and a deceitful flesh deceives the blind people of our day by a society that is focused on secular humanism. May we be the example of knowing God’s voice, following God’s voice, and promoting God’s voice. He truly is our Good Shepherd.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, thank you for loving me enough to sacrifice your life for my sin. I am so thankful for the salvation, security, and satisfaction that I have in Christ.
• Lord, please help me to be an example of the confidence a person can have in the Good Shepherd.
• Lord, please help me to be an example of a good shepherd, as you trust to me the role of the undershepherd.