It is significant to remember how important shepherding is to God. God does not use cattlemen or horse whisperers as His example for leadership. God sees the role of spiritual leadership as the role of a shepherd. Sheep are not the brightest animals in the farmyard. There are no “Sheep Shows” where the finest and most talented sheep are put on display to do amazing tricks and be compared as the top sheep in the show.
Sheep are sort of dumb, but the good sheep follow the lead of their shepherd. That is why shepherding is so important. Jesus called the religious leaders out. He said that they were terrible as shepherds, in fact, they acted more like robbers and predators than shepherds. The sheep listen to their shepherd, his voice is the only voice that matters to them. So they would be held accountable for their terrible leadership of their people!
Jesus told them point blank, as a shepherd, it was their job to lead their sheep toward God. It was their Job to protect their sheep from those that would hurt or kill them. Jesus reminded them He was the gate. He was the only safe way back into relationship with God! The world’s focus was to injure steal and kill the sheep, but, Jesus came to give life and meaning.
In our lives, we need to realize that life with the Lord looks different than life in the world. We are literally drawn out by different voices. Voices of instant gratification, jealousy, greed, rage, hurt, materialism, and selfishness call to us daily. Like sheep, we are in need of a great shepherd that will bring us into safety and into life. Jesus reminds us that the world and its many voices seek only to steal and kill us. But He came to give us life and a life that is filled with meaning and purpose.
We need not be the sheep that chase the world’s call. Additionally, when we pour our lives into others, we need to be shepherding them toward the Lord and away from the world. The great shepherds, Moses, David, Peter, James, John, Paul all understood that their role was a life and death one. They needed to treat it with great importance. As shepherds, they needed to be selfless 24/7/365. In modern day, so do we!
God Bless You
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Walking With God 