Anglican Daily Fountain 15th March 2024 (Devotional Today)
Welcome to Today’s Daily Fountain Devotional of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. Daily Fountain is a daily reading devotional for all Anglicans and Non-Anglicans to read, study, share and discuss the Word of God on a daily basis.
TOPIC: JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
TEXT: John 10: 1-21(KJV)
10:1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
10:2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
10:3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
10:4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
10:5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
10:6. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
10:7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
10:8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
10:9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10:10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
10:11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
10:12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
10:13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
10:14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
10:15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
10:16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
10:17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
10:18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
10:19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
10:20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
10:21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Anglican Daily Fountain 15th March 2024 STUDY:
In our text, Jesus describes the sheep-shepherd relationship and affirms Himself to be a good Shepherd, unlike the Jews of His days and early shepherds of Israel who scattered the sheep because they were hirelings (Jer.23). The sheepfold is usually a pen, a cave, or an area backed by stone walls, with no doors, so the shepherd sat in the opening to guard his sheep against harm. He would gather the sheep into a sheepfold at night for their protection and when thieves and wolves came to destroy and kill the sheep, the good shepherd was right there to save them.
Jesus is different from the hired keeper who runs away for his life in the face of danger; He, as the good shepherd, lay down his life for the sheep. He knows his sheep, cares for them, and tends his flock day and night. Jesus Christ remains the matchless great and good Shepherd who can be trusted and depended upon. He has never disappointed His sheep and will never do!
As sheep, believers are expected to listen to and follow their Chief shepherd who shed his blood for their sins. They are expected to make sure his will is propagated in this world. The leaders in the church are also a shepherd and they should also emulate Christ’s sacrificial and ineffable love for His sheep. The good shepherd should have a genuine concern for the believers under him.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to always trust in you as my good shepherd, Amen.
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