John 10:27-29
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.
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First and foremost, we need to know who His sheep are. More specifically, we need to be sure that we are HIS sheep, not following a thief and a robber or a wolf in sheep's clothing. We need to know His voice so we are not led astray by deceivers. Listen to what He says to you each and every morning, every afternoon and then again in the evening, every night as you are going to sleep, and any time in between—literally ALL the time. It is called abiding in His word and you will know the truth!
David who faithfully tended his father's flock had written so long ago the words of the well known, though often less well understood, psalm: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. {Ps. 23:1} He was later chosen to be the shepherd of his Father's flock, anointed and appointed as the king of Israel! A foreshadow of the true King and Shepherd of God's Kingdom, Jesus the promised Messiah. The Lord still provides for all of our needs {Php.4:19}, He has dealt with the enemy, the one who goes about as a roaring lion seeking to devour us {1Pt.5:8}, and He has opened the door leading us into to the eternal kingdom!
Jesus said, as recorded in today's verse, that His sheep hear Him and they follow Him. That makes perfect sense when we understand that the Jews He was speaking to at that time would certainly have known what Jesus had called the first and foremost command, the 'shâma' which is a Hebrew word for both "hear" as well as for "obey". If indeed we are His disciples we will also know today that we must hear and obey His Word!
Jesus has said to us "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” {Jn.14:15} Pretty clear isn't it? We will know that command is true, as is everything that the Lord has spoken if—there is always an ‘if'...
"...If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR AND OBEY
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