September 9

Following Jesus

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. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. — John 10:3-4 BSB

In the East, shepherds lead their sheep; they don’t drive them. They lead them to the fold at night and out to pasture in the morning. In the same way, Christ doesn’t drive His people—He leads them, and they follow Him.

Sheep need to be led. Unlike other animals, they don’t have a natural instinct to find their own way. Christ’s people are just like sheep. When sheep wander away, they can’t find their way back on their own. “All we like sheep have gone astray,” and we never could find our way back if the Good Shepherd didn’t come after us and lead us home. Christ is gentle in His leading. He goes before His sheep, thoughtfully caring for the weak ones. “He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.” He never leads His sheep too fast. Even when He takes them through difficult and dangerous places, He never loses any of them. Not a single one of Christ’s sheep has ever been lost under His guidance, no matter how perilous the path.

An old guide once said to a nervous tourist in the Alps, “This hand has never lost a man.” In the same way, Christ never loses anyone. He has led countless souls safely home through the world’s trials, and not one has been lost along the way. “Those that You gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost.” Christ leads His sheep to pastures and still waters. Sometimes He takes them through deserts, thorns, and dark valleys, but as long as He is with them, they are safe. In the end, He will lead them through the valley of death into the eternal safety of the heavenly fold, where they will be forever blessed in His love.