the Third Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. John 10:14. It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:3. I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant. Psalms 119:176.
The blessed fellowship that exists between Christ and His sheep is something for which the sheep have to thank Him alone. "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:25). He has sought us and led us to Himself. But are we all truly with Him? Do we know Him as our Shepherd, who has given His life for us, and bestowed upon us life eternal? Is it for that reason that we hear His voice? Do we follow His beckoning, and walk in His pasture? It is, perhaps, often necessary that He set the dogs at us and thereby drive us together so that we are compelled to flee to Him and seek salvation beneath His shepherd-staff. If we remain in Him, and allow His rod and His staff to govern us. He has no use for the dogs. It is very beautiful to see of what good use the dogs are to a flock of sheep that have scattered and gone far away from the fold: when they hear the barking of the dogs, they run together quick as a flash, and hasten to the shepherd. The dogs dare not harm any one of the sheep, the shepherd does not allow that; their barking only seems to drive the sheep to the shepherd and the fold. If the sheep be good, and remain with the Lord in the good pastures, the dogs have nothing to do. and the Shepherd does not need them; He keeps them off so that they do not disturb the sheep. Oftentimes a sheep strays from the flock and loses sight of the Shepherd altogether; but when it longs for home and cries, Lord, I am a stray and a lost sheep: seek Thy servant! the Lord will not hesitate. He has the welfare of each individual sheep at heart. He will soon hear the voice of the crying sheep. He calls the lost ones by day and by night. How He must rejoice when someone cries to Him and longs to come back to Him!
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tenderest care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us.
For our use Thy folds prepare;
Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
