Listening to the Good Shepherd
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 24-25; John 5:1-24
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; [Jesus has] come that they may have life. John 10:10
Today's Scripture: John 10:1-10
Insight
In John 10, Jesus exposed the agenda of Satan through those who should’ve been shepherding believers well. The endgame of false teachers is “to steal and kill and destroy,” while Christ came so we “may have life . . . to the full” (v. 10). In Ephesians 4, Paul notes that Jesus gives the church leaders “to equip his people” (v. 12) and build them up through sound teaching so that they “will no longer be . . . blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (v. 14). Today, as in Christ’s day, sincere seekers of truth aren’t exempt from the schemes of those who don’t have their best interest at heart. The Spirit will give us discernment to recognize the true voice of the Good Shepherd.
I opened my online banking app and discovered two withdrawals over $500 each, which I hadn’t made. Panicked, I called the bank and discovered my identity had been stolen. With the bank’s help, I was able to reinstate my good standing, but the experience taught me to be alert to prevent such thefts in the future.
In John 10:10, Jesus warns that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Rebuking religious leaders who opposed Him for healing on the Sabbath (9:13-15), Jesus revealed their motive: to steal, kill, and destroy. Our spiritual enemy, Satan, plots to steal our understanding of God’s grace—and the freedom Jesus’ death provides for us. Hope and help come earlier in the passage where Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd who calls His sheep by name (10:2-4). The good shepherd’s sheep “will run away from [a thief] because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (v. 5).
We sometimes find ourselves victimized by the evil in our world. But our loving God invites us into a practice of discernment where we learn to recognize and avoid the voice of our enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy. As we tune our ears to the voice of our Good Shepherd, we can trust Him to lead us to life “to the full” (v. 10).
Reflect & Pray
Where in your life is “the thief” seeking to harm you? How will you listen for the voice of the Shepherd who longs to lead you to Himself and provide abundant life?
Dear God, please help me discern the voice of the thief and instead tune my ears to Your voice.