John 10:11-18 (NRSV)
Read John 10:11-18 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Verse 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. Verse 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. Verse 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, Verse 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. Verse 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. Verse 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. Verse 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Devotion
Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know him! He knows us through and through, and loves us.
Psalm 139 describes how God knows every detail of our lives – every word before it is formed on our tongue, every day before we lived even one out! It’s staggering if you think about it. I know not every word that has left my mouth is good, nor has every day been lived right. Even though he knows my failings, the Good Shepherd never leaves me. The wages of my sin is death, yet the Good Shepherd promises eternal life through faith in what he has done for us on the cross (Romans 6:23).
He knows you – everything about you – and still holds out his gift of grace and love to you and to anyone who would receive it.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you know me and you love me. Today, I receive your gift of forgiveness anew. May I continue to grow to know you better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.