Today’s Daily Bread ~ The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-3 – “I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!  For a shepherd enters through the gate.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Jesus is called many things in the bible; the Way, the Truth, the Light, the Bread of Life, the Word, the Giver of Living Water.  But it’s the image of the Good Shepherd that I love the most.

The people of Jesus’ day would’ve seen these words simply packed with meaning, as shepherding was a common occupation.  Shepherds would move their flocks from field to field.  By nature, sheep are skittish and fearful, prone to scatter or wander off.  They’re also defenseless.  The shepherd would carry a rod that looked like a large club to beat off wild animals or thieves.  The staff was used to protect from scorpions and snakes.

Sometimes several shepherds would stay the night together for more protection.  In the morning, each would call their flock.  The sheep, familiar with their shepherd’s voice, would follow them out.

The more I read about sheep, the more I realize sadly how much I have in common with the poor creatures.  Here are just a few of their characteristics.

Sheep are gregarious animals, meaning they are most comfortable in herds.  When frightened, they stampede easily, and are terribly vulnerable to a mob mentality.  They’re jealous, often competing for dominance.  They have very little discernment in choosing food or water, and are also incredibly stubborn.  They want their own way – even if it means eating poisonous plants or berries. 

A sheep is easily “cast,” meaning they get flipped over onto their backs.  When this happens, they have no way of righting themselves, and will starve to death without the assistance of the shepherd. 

They resist being sheared, or cleaned.  Sheep need to be on the move, with a predetermined path of grazing.  They are completely reliant on the shepherd. 

A good shepherd will scout out the pasture before moving the sheep into it…searching for wild animals and poisonous plants.  A good shepherd loves his sheep, and will search to find even one that is lost. 

In John 10:14-16, Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father.  And I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep too, that are not in this sheepfold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”

There are so many lost sheep, just waiting for someone to lead them to Christ.  Do you realize that here on earth, we are the only hands and feet Jesus has?  We are the voices expected to extend the invitation to the table.  We are the light to shine in the darkness.

The last line in today’s Scripture fills me with emotion every time I read it.  “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  I have a dear friend who has recently spent some time with a family member in hospice.  She got to know the nurse quite well, and the nurse told her something that fills me with hope and fear at the same time.  “There’s a difference, you know,” she told my friend.  “When someone knows the Lord and when they don’t…I can always tell.”  My friends eyes widened as she told the story.  “Believers are very much at peace when they go, and sometimes they even go smiling.  Not the other ones.  They look afraid.  They hang on for dear life.”  Jesus’ sheep hear His voice and come to Him.

Now is the time to be bold in our faith!  Today is the day to share the Good News!  We simply cannot develop pack-mentality and go with the herd.  The herd is headed toward destruction!  Today’s world celebrates botox, fake body parts and sex tapes.  The world has pulled God out of schools and the Bible out of courtrooms.  Society tells us to “look out for number one,” and “just do it!” regardless of the consequences.  Ending life before it starts is legal.  What good does it do to be a Christian today if we don’t do anything with it?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for us, His flock.  Please strengthen us in our faith, and remind us of who we are in You.  In Christ, we are adopted, accepted, blessed, chosen, forgiven and redeemed!  Please help us to live in victory, and to shine Your light to the world.  Give us the courage to bring others to You.  We love You so much, and we ask these things in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.