3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” John 10:3-53
24 “The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,” John 10:24-28
How is it that sometimes we end up away from God?
Our own choices. Sometimes sin or sometimes not even bad or sinful choices, but when we lose sight of our purpose.
Just a wrong heart or attitude.
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11
14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So, I sacrifice my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15
- Listen for God’s voice by having a relationship with Him
- Do everything as if for Jesus
- Have the right perspective
- Don’t let life get filled with just “stuff”
- Let your life be filled with God
“God will come through for you when you submit yourself to Him. The problem is that it’s easy to forget how loving and kind He is when our circumstances block the view.” – Charles Stanley