Monday Reading: John 10:1-5
Key Verse: John 10:4
4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice.
Devotion:
What a simple picture this parable paints for us and what an example. Life does not have to be difficult so that we do not know what is going to happen from day to day. Life does not have to be discouraging. If we are reliant on One who is able to care for us and to lead us, then what care should we have of what may be before us?
God’s church is likened to a sheep-fold here, placed squarely in a land where there are dangers to avoid (why else would there be a sheep-fold if there were not dangers?). The sheep-fold is a protection that serves as long as the sheep are within its confines; as soon as the sheep leave the fold, they are no longer protected by the fold but have to rely on other factors. If the sheep were to know just how bad it was outside, would they want to venture out at all? Possibly not... But when the shepherd comes forward to lead the sheep out, they hear a familiar voice and are no longer afraid. They know that that voice will not allow them to fall into danger and they will follow that voice wherever it goes.
We are like those sheep – but we also know we are not like those sheep! We may hear the voice of God guiding us through many ways, but we also think that we know things that others don’t! We look around and we see dangers and pitfalls and we make up our minds as to whether we think that they will trap us or not. We then walk off and face various things because we think we are strong enough to manage them or intelligent enough to avoid the dangers lurking within. Unfortunately for us, we do not know just who has laid those traps and we do not know how dangerous they actually are. Fortunately we do have a shepherd who is watching over us and will guide us... so long as we listen to Him!
See, that’s the big issue. We need to be willing to listen to God’s instructions in our lives and to be willing to follow His will in our lives. That way He can keep us safely at all times!
Points to Ponder:
Do you feel a bit like a sheep sometimes?
Do you trust your Shepherd?
