Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:25-30
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The single greatest, most motivating teaching I ever heard on the importance of spending time reading God’s Word was based on John 10. In John 10, Jesus describes himself as the Good and Great Shepherd—He knows his sheep and his sheep know His voice and follow Him.
The reality is we are all sheep following a shepherd. The only question to be answered is, “What shepherd are we following?”
If we want that shepherd to be Jesus, we must learn to hear, recognize, and follow His voice through God’s Word.
That simple teaching, for decades, has motivated me to spend time in God’s Word each day. Do I accomplish that discipline every day? Unfortunately, no. But whenever I do miss, I eventually return to this truth: We are all sheep following a shepherd… the only question is, “Which voice am I following with my life?”
In John 10, Jesus reminds us that we are not only sheep in need of a shepherd, but He also assures us why His voice is worthy of our discipline and pursuit. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, promises both spiritual and personal benefits to those who know Him and listen to His voice.
If you were to read the entire chapter, you would see that when we follow Christ as our shepherd, we receive:
Safety, Comfort, and Eternal Life
These are the blessings and promises available to anyone who chooses to follow Jesus as their Great Shepherd!
If you are one of Christ’s sheep, let this serve as a reminder today to spend time with Him. Open His Word, listen for His voice, and follow where He leads.
And if you don’t yet know Jesus as your personal Shepherd, you can—and it is wonderful. I encourage you to pick up a Bible today and begin listening for God’s voice in your life. The book of John in the New Testament is a wonderful place to begin listening.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the new life You’ve given me. Help me to live intentionally and wisely, making the most of each opportunity with all of my resources. Guide me in using my time, energy, and focus for Your purpose. Amen.