SHEPHERD SECRETS

Still considering some of the Shepherd Style from yesterday’s Journal. In John 10, where so much is written about a Good Shepherd, we see a couple of remarkable traits.

Jesus said, “the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name” (John 10:3). To know a familiar voice and have that voice call us by name is like having a voice attach itself to us. If this is negative and a familiar voice speaks to us in anger, we have an instant reaction in our internal receptors that is responsive to the voice of anger. We resentfully listen. If the familiar voice calls out our name in love, respect and caring, there is safety and security in the voice.

This is the Lord Jesus telling us that he knows us by name… he actually knows our name. We actually know his voice. That’s remarkable.

All shepherds, and especially eldering couples of the flock of God, should know the flock by name and the flock should know their voice. Otherwise, they might only be known by religion and tradition, instead of real life in a real flock.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father.” Jesus