9-17-20 THOUGHTS

The SHEEP METAPHOR is most beautiful in the Bible.  Dependent, needy, dull and not smart, SHEEP must have a SHEPHERD!  See the intimate relationship below of a shepherd and his sheep.
Ps 23:1   The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Mark 6:34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
John 10:1-15   "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2  "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3  "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4  "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5  "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 6  This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. 7  So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8  "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9  "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11  "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12  "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13  "He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14  "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15  even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
1Pet 2:25  For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1Pet 5:4  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Make very certain THAT YOU KNOW HIS VOICE ALWAYS!

My Prayer:
Oh God of eternity, how you have cared for us.  Our Passover lamb you made our Awesome Shepherd. Help us with each breath to know his voice.  May we learn to rejoice in following his voice.  How tender are your ways Oh Lord.  We desire your presence for evermore.
In the name of our great Shepherd              Amen