Stephan Hoffman

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  John 10:27-28

A shepherd in the time Jesus was on earth, stayed and lived with his sheep. Usually the shepherd lay in the entrance to the kraal or cave where the sheep slept. Predators or thieves had to get past the shepherd to reach the sheep. Jesus refers to himself as the gate for the sheep. He is the one who cares for the flock and leads them by talking to them. A shepherd in that time did not walk behind his sheep, driving them forward, but rather walked ahead of them, calling. Many times the sheep of various shepherds slept together in the same kraal, when their shepherd called in the morning the sheep would recognise his voice and follow him because they knew and trusted him to lead them to the best pastures and water.

Jesus promises that he knows each of us, and he gives us eternal life, and that no one can snatch us from his hand.

What a wonderful image to enable us to understand something of God's love.  He truly knows you through and through. All your dreams, ideals, worries and fears he knows. He also calls you by your name, and he promises to lead and care for you. Nothing can ever separate you from his love. The question is whether we know his voice well enough, to listen when he speaks to us. Do you know him so well that the noises of this world cannot silence his voice? Do you respond when he calls?  Do you follow where he leads?

May God, through the Holy Spirit, give us the strength to trust and follow where he leads us. May we also live assured of his protection and care, despite difficult circumstances.  Let us once again shelter by the great Shepherd for he is our only path to true life!

Prayer: Our Father, we thank uou that we can come to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you that in your presence, we can experience how you lead and care for us. Guide us every day through your Spirit, so that we will not stray from you. Thank you that we can know your voice and know that nothing and no one can snatch us from your hand. Amen