Sheep follow the Good Shepherd, and that is what distinguishes those who follow Jesus on the narrow path from those who take the broad road of the world. Jesus speaks to us about this narrow road. Matthew 7:13You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its …
The “I am” statements created a controversial identity of Jesus. The Jewish scholars were well aware of the name that God had given Moses. Exodus 3: 14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.[1] To this point, Jesus had said: …
Jesus spoke about bringing other sheep into the fold. John 10: 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. [1] Who were these other sheep? They were the Gentiles. Jesus, as a …
Have you ever thought about how the characteristics of the Good Shepherd have impacted your life? Scripture often calls believers “sheep” because they share many traits. Psalm 100:3Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” [1] Sheep lack a sense of …
What is satan’s purpose on this earth? Jesus tells us. John 10:10a The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.[1] We first see this thief in Genesis chapter three, where he seeks to deceive Adam and Eve, whom God had created. Genesis 3:1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the …
Jesus is the Gate. He was using a common image to explain a spiritual reality. His first-century listeners would have been knowledgeable about sheep and shepherds. Those of us in the twenty-first century are not as familiar with a sheepfold and need more information. A first-century sheepfold was a rock wall enclosure of loosely stacked …
Sheep know their spiritual shepherd because they have a relationship with their Savior, Jesus. In the Bible, believers are called sheep and share many of the same characteristics. There’s something about a relationship with our Savior that lets us hear His voice above the noise of everyday life, just as sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice. …
Wolves in sheep’s clothing symbolize a person pretending to be someone they are not, usually with evil intent. Wolf and sheep are very different animals. Jesus uses a wolf in sheep’s clothing phrase to distinguish false prophets. Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can …
Listening to God changes my life is something that happens repeatedly. Have you had the Holy Spirit prompt you to do something? When you obeyed did it make a significant difference? Listening to God is more than just hearing but obeying what He is telling you to do. When it comes to listening to God, …