Bible League: Living His Word ... the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.— John 10:3 NLT There is the Good Shepherd and there is the stranger. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). It follows that Satan is the stranger. Believers are the sheep in this analogy. This means that they're followers. It's just a question of which voice they follow—that of Jesus or Satan. Some people may claim not to need a shepherd; they may claim to be their own shepherds, but this is nothing more than a foolish and idle boast. Ultimately, people are followers whether they want to be or not. Both the voice of the Shepherd and the voice of the stranger speak to the sheep, to guide them through life. They speak to them in a number of different ways. They may speak through circumstances, a friend, an inner voice, a deep conviction, or through the Bible, preaching, worldly literature, or other media. In whatever way it happens, the sheep hear the voices of both and must decide whom to follow. The sheep mentioned in our verse for today are Jesus' sheep, chosen by God. That's why they recognize Jesus' voice and trust it to follow it. When they follow Jesus, things go well for them. After all, Jesus is not called the Good Shepherd for nothing. He knows each one of his sheep by name and He personally leads them to the green pastures and still waters of life that they need. (Psalm 23:1-3). In verse 5, the stranger also calls to the sheep, but the flock of Jesus does not know His voice and runs away from Him. Once you become a sheep in Jesus' flock, you're always a sheep in Jesus' flock. As He said, "No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). If you're a Christian, you have the ability to recognize Jesus' voice. Listen to Him and ignore the other strange voices you're hearing. Listen to Him, then, and be guided to pastures of peace and plenty. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJudges 18, 19 Judges 18 -- Danites Settle in Laish, Take Micah's Idols NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 19 -- A Levite's Concubine Degraded NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 10:25-42 Luke 10 -- Jesus Sends out the Seventy-two; Good Samaritan; Martha and Mary's House NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Do not withhold good from those who deserve itwhen it's in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you.” Insight Delaying to do good is inconsiderate and unfair, whether it is repaying a loan, returning a tool, or fulfilling a promise. Withholding destroys trust and creates a great inconvenience. Challenge Be as eager to do good as you are to have good done to you. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp.Jesus, bearing his cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was "not of the world:" his life and his testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in him; but still he was separate from sinners. In like manner Christ's people must "go forth unto him." They must take their position "without the camp," as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and his truth next, and Christ and his truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have his people "go forth without the camp" for their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ "without the camp." The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well recompensed by eternal honor; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are "forever with the Lord." Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. • For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. • Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Ephesians 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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