Run Back to the Shepherd

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

─ John 10:3-5 ESV

Run Back to the Shepherd

Most parents today are vigilant about training their child never to talk to strangers. We live in a fallen world. In most communities, the days of allowing your child to play outside all day without checking in with you are gone. People no longer leave their homes and cars unlocked because people no longer respect and honor God or one another. Even churches today lock their doors, whereas 50 years ago, doors were left open and you could go to the sanctuary at any time of day or night to pray.

The stranger is speaking; calling to us. He tries to lure us away from the father. He pretends to know us so that we will follow him instead of the Good Shepherd. Jesus said, in our verse today, if we are His sheep, we know His voice and will only follow Him. Because we know Him, we will run from the voice of a stranger.

Isn’t that what we teach our children? Run from a stranger? Don’t get in a car with them. Don’t accept gifts or even have conversation, but immediately run back to Mom or Dad.

Likewise, when the stranger, or the devil tries to compel you to follow him by pretending to be someone who knows you and loves you, be quick to realize his voice is not familiar, not the one to follow.

Today’s One Thing

One way you can become more intimate with the voice of the Good Shepherd is to study Scripture.

• Take time today to study more about the ways of the Good Shepherd.
• Read the story Jesus shared that our verse today comes from – John 10:1-21.
• Ask God to teach you about listening and following him.

Additional Reading

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