John 10:1-21 I am The Good Shephard

This passage of scripture can easily be skimmed over like there is nothing new. We have heard this quoted so many times that it rolls off our minds and our hearts like water.

I encourage you to take a look at the reactions of the people hearing this. They were angry, saying Jesus was possessed by a demon. This is not the results of a cute little bedtime story.

Perhaps the reason for the anger was the statement the Jesus was the "good shepherd" and "all whom came before were thieves and robbers". Yeah, that would make me mad!

I would like to point out two things that struck me from this section.

1. The good shepherd comes by the front door.

We all have seen those pastor types that want to minister to the sheep that they have no passion for. Ones that come along actually dividing the flock in the name of revival or awakening or whatever the current buzz word is.

They are likened to thieves and robbers. Hired hands that run when the wolves come calling.

We have also all seen those that are faithful and would give the shirt off of their backs for their sheep. The ones that get up in the middle of the night to visit a dying parishioner. Those that have toiled for far too long for far too little compensation.

Those are the ones the sheep turn to. Those are the ones they hear the voice of.

Don't be deceived. It is easier to distinguish the difference than you might think.

2. The sheep know the good shepherds voice.

If we as sheep would only take a moment to listen, we would know the voice of the "good shepherd".

Somewhere past the voice of popularity, past the voice of convenience, past the voice of exciting, past the voice of easy, we hear the voice calling "This is the way, walk ye in it"

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