John 10:1–11

1 ‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.’ 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

 

They will never follow a stranger; . . . because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice. John 10:5

When I found her, she was hungry, dirty and meowing desperately for attention. After taking her to a vet and feeding her, the cat I named Daisy came with me to her new home.

At first, she would go to anyone and climb up on their lap. But now that she’s bonded with me, she refuses to leave my side. She loves being my cat—sleeping next to me and following me everywhere. She is much more confident, but much more wary of strangers.

When Jesus found us, we too were in a state of dire need. Sin and shame made us feel grubby and desperate for loving restoration. Likening us to sheep, and calling Himself the “Good Shepherd”, Jesus taught, “whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture” (JOHN 10:9). He saves us, cleans us, provides for us and leads us.

When we hear other voices in the world inviting us to try a different way of life—to ‘move on’ from Jesus—may we react like my cat. “[My sheep] will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice” (V. 5).

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has rescued us. And we love being His sheep, like Daisy loves being my cat. He delights to give us “life to the full” (V. 10).

What do you love most about belonging to Jesus? How would you describe the fullness of life He gives you?

Jesus, thank You for finding me, saving me, restoring me and making me Your own. I love being Yours.