September 8

The Good Shepherd

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. — John 10:3 BSB

There’s a big difference between the care a shepherd gives to his own sheep and the care a hired hand gives. It’s like the difference between a mother caring for her child and a nurse caring for someone else’s child. This is especially clear when the child is sick or in danger. The hired hand works for pay, but the mother works for love. Christ, the Good Shepherd, owns His sheep—they are His.

There’s something very comforting in knowing that Christians are Christ’s own. It shows how precious we are to Him. “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” Being His own also brings assurance of His care. He wants His own to be with Him in heaven forever. This also reminds us of our duty. If we belong to Christ, He has every right to direct our lives and call us to serve Him.

It’s amazing to think that Christ calls each of His sheep by name. Some pastors don’t know all their congregation members by name, even in a small church. Christ has millions of followers all over the world, yet He knows each one personally by name. He knows a poor widow in a lonely garret in a bustling city, and He knows an orphan child with no protector. This truth should be very precious to anyone who loves Christ and belongs to Him. He knows when any of His own are suffering or in need, and He will never neglect even the least of them.