“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
John 10:11-21

Dear God, it’s so interesting to see how Jesus apparently referenced Gentiles in this speech here (I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd) and, while people probably didn’t understand the reference at the time, John was careful to include it in his account of what Jesus had said. Yes, indeed, I not only have a right to be here praying to you this morning. You want me with you.

So, do I know your voice when I hear it? Going back to my common theme over the last few weeks, am I simply a believer in Jesus or a follower of Jesus? Do I believe there is a shepherd or do I follow the shepherd?

Father, it starts with me. I am prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. I am prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it. I will do my best to be a follower of you. Thank you for wanting me in your flock.

In Jesus my shepherd’s name I pray,

Amen