My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:27, 28).
A traveler in the Near East asserted to a shepherd that the sheep knew their master by his dress, not his voice. To prove his point, the stranger changed clothes with the shepherd and went among the sheep, calling them and trying to lead them. Not knowing his voice, the sheep wouldn't move. But when the shepherd called, they ran at once to him, although he was wearing strange clothing. "A stranger," said Jesus, "they will not follow" (John 10:5). Not only do the sheep know the voice of their master, but Jesus, as the Great Shepherd, says, "I know them." Are you not glad, friend, that Christ knows you, the sheep of His pasture?
Notice the threefold blessing of being His sheep: First, He gives eternal life; second, they shall never perish; third, no man shall pluck them out of His hand. Eternal life is God's gift in Christ. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality," He gives "eternal life" (Rom. 2:7). It is given to those who seek it by faith, "for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). We are safe in His nail-pierced hand, and no one can pluck us from that hand.
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd! I would sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
__H. W. Baker
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Ps. 23:4).
A traveler in the Near East asserted to a shepherd that the sheep knew their master by his dress, not his voice. To prove his point, the stranger changed clothes with the shepherd and went among the sheep, calling them and trying to lead them. Not knowing his voice, the sheep wouldn't move. But when the shepherd called, they ran at once to him, although he was wearing strange clothing. "A stranger," said Jesus, "they will not follow" (John 10:5). Not only do the sheep know the voice of their master, but Jesus, as the Great Shepherd, says, "I know them." Are you not glad, friend, that Christ knows you, the sheep of His pasture?
Notice the threefold blessing of being His sheep: First, He gives eternal life; second, they shall never perish; third, no man shall pluck them out of His hand. Eternal life is God's gift in Christ. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality," He gives "eternal life" (Rom. 2:7). It is given to those who seek it by faith, "for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). We are safe in His nail-pierced hand, and no one can pluck us from that hand.
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd! I would sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
__H. W. Baker
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Ps. 23:4).
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