The Good Shepherd

Pastors and teachers love to tell their congregations that God calls them sheep and sheep are dumb.  Yet, the Scriptures are filled with imagery of how God, as the Shepherd, cares for His sheep.  He loves them, nourishes them and protects them.  He goes after the sheep that stray and even lays down His life for His sheep.  Far from an insult, it is a wonderful thing to be called one of God's sheep.

John 10: 27-29 gives a good description of just what it means to be part of God's flock:

^"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
 
Every phrase is packed with doctrine.  

He knows His sheep
His sheep hear Him and follow Him
He gives them eternal life
They will never perish
No one will snatch them out of His hand
His Father gave them to Him
His Father is greater than all
No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand

If these things are true, then the opposite must be false.  Spend some time pondering that--what do you really believe about your relationship to Jesus as your Shepherd?  Do you comprehend the assurance that He gives to you as His own?  

Verses 26-27 imply that we are His sheep even before we believe.  The people didn't believe Him because they weren't His sheep.  But, those who are His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.  We don't become His sheep because at some point we recognize Him--we recognize Him because we are His sheep.  God is the author and giver of salvation, we can only respond to His call, which we assuredly will do if we are His.  We must learn to rest in this great truth~