A Hymn based on John 10
Good Shepherd, speak. My heart is listening.
Your voice is love. You call my name.
Lord Jesus, lead, for I can only follow.
I am a lamb, and You, the Living Way.
Good Shepherd, speak. My heart is listening.
Your love alone can call my name.
O Savior God, You walk before me.
Your way is life. I gladly go.
I cannot see, but I will simply follow.
We walk a path that only You can know.
O Savior God, You walk before me.
Your way is love. I gladly go.
from the book, ONE WITH OUR FATHER
John 10:1-38
“He who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, 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. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:2-4, 9-10, 14-15, 17-18, 27-30, NASB)
Father, the deep knowing that binds You to the Son
now binds me to Him.
And as I am bound to Him,
I am bound to You as well.
He calls me personally,
by my own name, and
I recognize His voice.
I am learning to follow no voice but His.
For when He speaks, I hear You, Father:
Your love,
Your wisdom,
Your tender, faithful, constant care for me.
Your Son leads me through every day –
me, Father,
through everything that comes.
He protects me with Himself.
He places His own body
between me and any approaching harm.
He, the Good Shepherd, the Almighty God, is
the Gate,
the Door,
my impenetrable Shield,
my impregnable Fortress.
I need not fear
need,
temptation,
sickness, or
even death.
Everything that touches me comes through Him,
and through You, Father.
Because I am in His hands,
I am in Yours.
You and I are beginning to share
the same knowing,
the same peace,
the same deep love
that You share with the Son.
Complete us, Father.
Complete us in Jesus Christ.
Listen and sing:
Hymn: Good Shepherd
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics
from the devotional book, PICTURES OF GOD
Read Psalm 95
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1, NASB)
Imagine the daily life and work of a shepherd.
They lived in tents. But lack of rainfall meant lots of moving around during the summer season. They often had to be away from their home base for days or weeks.
They carried a large leather bag which contained all their food and daily supplies. A large staff or stick, sometimes with a knob on the end, was used both as a club and as a walking stick, very helpful over rough, uneven ground. Like David, some shepherds were rather good with a slingshot, since it provided effective, portable protection. It was a way to ward off predators from a distance.
Shepherds had to stay ready for emergencies. If a sheep was injured, they were its only source of medical help. Sheep got so focused on grazing, with their head staying down, that they often wandered off. A sheep was so valuable that it had to be found. The shepherd would leave the rest of the flock and look until the lost sheep was located and returned (see Luke 15:4-7).
The days were long. The nights were long. The life was lonely. Some shepherds made music on a hand-made reed pipe. Many entertained themselves by talking to the sheep, and thus the sheep grew to recognize their shepherd’s voice. He had to keep constant count of them, sometimes even calling them by name (see John 10:3).
Good shepherds would never kill and eat their sheep, no matter how hungry. Shepherds had to be strong and resourceful for times of danger, yet keep a gentle, caring, patient disposition. At night, after gathering the sheep into a fold for protection, he would guard the opening with his own body (see John 10:7-9).
Good shepherds worked hard for little pay and less respect. They did strenuous and important work.
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NASB)
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and
they shall never perish;
no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me,
is greater than all;
no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:27-30, NIV)
We hear so many voices, both
from the outside and
from inside.
But Jesus, when you speak,
we recognize Your voice.
We recognize
the Father’s love,
the Father’s power,
the Father’s wisdom, and
the Father’s tender care for us.
Jesus, we trust You and
gladly follow You.
Listen and sing:
Hymn: Jesus, Living God!
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics
John 10:1-18
Good Shepherd,
lead me through this day.
Call me by name,
and help me hear Your voice in my heart.
May I follow no voice but Yours.
Lead me out, Lord.
Always go with me and before me.
Lead me to Your provision for today:
Your bread,
Your work,
Your rest.
Good Shepherd,
You are the door.
Through You I enter into life.
You are always standing in front of me,
protecting me from the Evil One.
Good Shepherd,
You lay down Your life for me.
I am Your own.
The same knowing that binds You to Your Father
now binds me to You.
You are love.
Speak, Lord.
My heart is listening.
Listen…and sing if you want:
Hymn: Good Shepherd
Recording
Printed Music & Lyrics
