Scripture – John 10:11; Name of Jesus – The Good Shepherd; Ornament – Shepherd Staff
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
I love this picture that Scripture paints of our Savior. He saw me among the multitudes – and felt compassion for me – because I was distressed and downcast like a sheep without a shepherd. God in His goodness gave me Jesus, a shepherd to care for me and who willingly laid His life down for His sheep. I am so thankful for His rod and staff, they truly do comfort me. By them, I have known His protection and when I have strayed He has pulled me back to His path of righteousness. – Father, I am forever totally dependent on You and ever grateful for Your Gift of the Savior, my Good Shepherd.
Me – from the Insideout
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
Day 2: Scripture – John 10:9; Name of Jesus – The Door; Ornament – Door
On this second day of Christmas, I remember not just the baby in the manger – but the “Door” that He came to be.
Yes, I am the door. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
John 10:9
He came to be a door or gateway to God. When we choose to believe in Him we are given access to His safe pasture. We are invited into His Presence to live under the protection of the Great Shepherd. We feed on His Word and learn to know His voice and live in obedience to Him. In His presence there is peace and hope and strength, there is love and life everlasting. Those who choose not to enter are sheep without a shepherd, living in darkness and jeopardy, without hope.
Jesus says , “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”
Throughout Scripture we find examples and lessons about or from the Shepherd. One of my favorites and I would dare say – one of the most familiar ‘shepherd reference’ is Psalm 23, in the Old Testament. The Psalm is written by David, a shepherd himself, who writes a beautiful and inviting description of God as His Shepherd. He describes Him as one who protected, led, and cared for him, and who encouraged, renewed, and comforted him. David’s words make it clear that God was the one in whom David placed his hope and confidence.
Like David, we too have a Shepherd, in whom we can place our hope and confidence, knowing that He will not only leave the majority of His sheep to look for even one that is lost, but that He laid down His life for the sheep. He is tender and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. He is a protector and comforter and intercedes on behalf of His sheep to the Father. He leads us by example and is one day coming back for all who belong to Him. You can trust Him and turn to Him when you feel lost or when you you need forgiveness. Remember He is your redeemer, your comforter, encourager, and friend. He is Your intercessor between God and a true love of your soul.
An Invitation –
Is Jesus your Shepherd? – Check out these TRUTHS and choose Jesus today
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Isaiah 40:10-11
I love knowing that God is an all-wise God, and that He is powerful and rules over all. However, there is something even more comforting in knowing Him as the great Shepherd who knows His sheep and wants them, even trains them to know Him. Isaiah’s words are particularly encouraging, as he points out that God – the Shepherd – provides, protects, comforts, and leads.
He feeds His sheep, wanting them to be healthy, He nurtures them with what He knows they need,
He carries His lambs, or as one commentary explains – those who are younger in their faith. He will hold them close to His heart, protecting them from danger and comforting them when they are afraid or unsure.
and “He gentlyleads the mother sheep with their young.”
I read somewhere that a shepherd will sometimes carry the young lambs because they can’t keep up, they tire quickly, or they become afraid; but it’s the last part of this verse – “He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young”, that had me most curious. What I found was this beautiful characterization of our God –
[…”gently lead the mother sheep with their young”] means the Shepherd is not only aware of the mother’s concern for her babies, and her torn desire between keeping up with the herd, and keeping up with a baby that needs time, but that He is also sensitive to it and willingly takes action to help her with her concerns. His response is Not, “Oh come on you stupid old sheep!” He is not blind, deaf, nor callous to her needs, her priorities, to what concerns her. He understands, and responds supportively, with patience! … When a mamma sheep knows the shepherd has her baby, she will follow the shepherd to keep up with baby. That He has her baby is her primary motivation for following Him at this time, but He doesn’t mind; she is still following. They, sheep and Shepherd, still have a relationship. She is still learning about Him as her Shepherd, even while her eyes and time are more focused on her lamb. The challenge, for both the sheep and human Christian parents, is to not view trust in the Shepherd, and responsibilities as parents, as two separate, compartmentalized things. Our Shepherd wants to support and nurture us while we carry those responsibilities; not demand more from us on top of it all.
Father, thank you for who You are – our tender, patient, loving, and gentle Shepherd. Thank You for all the times You have carried us or comforted us when we have been weak or fearful. Thank you for your constant provision and patient guidance. We would be lost without You. We would live in fear and trembling – instead we are safe and secure in Your care.
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:27-28 HCSB
Cornered and questioned
Once again Jesus is questioned by the Jewish leaders, this time in Solomon’s Portico of the temple area. John tells us he was “surrounded” by them, likely making it harder for Him to escape this time, and according to verse 31 they were primed and ready to stone Him. They demanded that He tell them whether or not He was really the Christ, accusing Him of keeping them in suspense. If you’ve been reading along with us our journey through John you know that this is far from the truth. Jesus has told them exactly who He is, which is exactly how He responded. “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep.” Sheep always recognize the voice of their shepherd and since the Jewish leaders are refusing to believe Jesus, the Good Shepherd, it is clear they do not belong to Him.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1;18
Safe and Secure
Jesus makes it clear to the Jewish leaders that the ones who listen to His voice and follow Him, those are His sheep. They know who He is and they trust Him. Because they belong to Him He gives them eternal life, not only allowing them to live forever but they will live forever as His – they are safe and secure from the predators who would seek to take them away from Him.
Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3
Reflection We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. In ancient times, being a sheep in a pasture meant that you belonged to a family. Unknown Source
Prayer
Father, thank you for receiving me through Christ Your Son. He knows me by name. I am a sheep in His pasture, a follower of His. His voice is in my ear and I seek to follow where He leads. Help me to not falter – help me to always hear His voice and may Your Word drown out all the other voices that vie for my attention! Thank you for the gift of eternal life through Him and for the promise that I am safe in His care – I will not perish or be snatched away! With hope in Jesus’ name – AMEN!
Me From the Inside Out 