Listen

“I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.

John 10:1-6

Think

My five-year-old son loves animals. Consequently, he has dozens of toy animal figurines. Seven zebras, ten elephants, a dozen horses, pigs in multiple shades of pink, and every variety of chicken imaginable. A handful of sheep are also among his animal collection, and I admittedly can’t keep track of them. My son, on the other hand, knows each sheep, each animal, by its name, size, shape, and color. He gathers all his sheep and can easily do a quick inventory to determine if one is missing.

Shepherds are to know each sheep, if not by name, then at least by stature, size, or markings. Each sheep must be personally known since sheep are helpless without their shepherd. Thus, when Jesus says he’s like a shepherd or guard at the sheep pen gate, he is not only a protector but also a detailed accountant. He knows every curly strand of wool on each sheep’s back. Equally, you are seen and known; even the very hairs of your head are numbered (Matthew 10:26-31). This picture shows us a profound relationship between sheep and shepherd, between us and our Creator.

Katie Cashwell

Pray

Good Shepherd, keep me this day, in big and small ways.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Amen.

Go

Your sure provisions gracious God
attend me all my days;
oh, may your house be my abode,
and all my work be praise.
Here would I find a settled rest,
while others go and come;
no more a stranger, nor a guest,
but like a child at home.

from “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” (Isaac Watts, 1719)