The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

                                                            Psalm 23:1 

Shepherds take on a variety of roles. One of these roles is that of the Shepherd as a Guide. David undoubtedly understood what it meant to lead the sheep. As an earthly shepherd, David was responsible for guiding the helpless sheep to places of safety and security. Green pastures and cool streams were in store for the sheep as David led them across the landscape. The sheep would become quite accustom to the voice of the Shepherd. As time went on, trust would be built between the Shepherd and the sheep. They knew David. They were familiar with his voice. His track record of care over them was all that was necessary to secure the loyalty and confidence of these fragile and somewhat unintelligent animals.

When we are saved, we enter into a personal relationship with Christ and He effectively becomes our Shepherd leading us in every aspect of our lives. We learn to disseminate His voice. We understand that He has our best interest at heart. Spiritual green pastures and cool refreshing waters belong to us as we place our faith in the capable leading and guiding of the Shepherd. His perfect track record as the Savior and Shepherd of our souls causes us to trust Him even more as we traverse the road of life. Jesus explains it this way:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

                                                                                                                     John 10:1-5 

As Christians, Jesus calls us by name and leads us through the door to the kingdom of heaven. Believers will always recognize the voice of God. This is one of many reasons why the study of scripture is so important. When we fail to make the study of God’s Word a priority in our lives, we open ourselves up to all of the competing voices echoing through the world today. When we speak the very words of God (regardless of how unpopular they are), we are showing ourselves as belonging to His flock. One of the great advantages in having “the Lord as our Shepherd” is the spiritual guidance that follows. Christians are able to see through spiritual eyes. This enlightenment comes only as we surrender our lives to the guidance of the Shepherd. As believers, we reject the conventional wisdom of the world. I believe that is what Jesus meant when He said, “A stranger they simply will not follow.” So as believers, Jesus becomes our Great Shepherd, leading and guiding us by His voice through His Word by His Spirit.

Along with Jesus’ description of Himself as Shepherd, He adds another descriptor, that of being the door. Consider the following: 

I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

                                                                                                                     John 10:9-10 

When we enter through Jesus, we are saved. All other religious and worldly philosophies will fall short of delivering on the promise of salvation. Our culture has become one that seems to embrace diversity on every level. The mere suggestion of singularity in truth is often scoffed at and mocked. But the gospel of Jesus is distinctive. He is the way, He is the truth, and He is the life. Truly, no one can come to God the Father except by Him (John 14:6). Notice the same “herding” analogy in that we will find “safe pasture” when we are led by Him. That is what Jesus is explaining as He describes Himself as the door.

But there is a thief who would like nothing more than to see us led by a different voice. This enemy of our souls is like a roaring lion and is seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). This enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. It matters not to him how that happens, only that it does. But when Jesus is our Shepherd, we are led to an uncommon, extraordinary, and abundant life, a life of contentment, fulfillment, and satisfaction.

Lastly, Jesus dealt with the reality that not everyone born in this world is a part of His flock. When dealing with the people surrounding Him that day, He addressed their unbelief. His words should remind us of this sobering and tragic reality. Listen to Jesus’ words: 

But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

                                                                                                                 John 10:26-28 

It is entirely illogical to suggest that we belong to Christ yet deny Him in every aspect of our lives. Many go through life believing that they can live like the world yet obtain the benefits of life in Jesus. While salvation comes through faith, the reality is that authentic believers no longer live for themselves rather they live to praise, honor, serve, and enjoy God. Authentic Christians will always listen to the words of Christ and take heed of those words. Authentic Christians will embrace other believers and live in such a way as to support them in their walk. But perhaps most importantly, authentic Christians will make mistakes but will deal with those failures in light of eternal life. Jesus identified the crowd that day as those not belonging simply because they did not truly believe. We are reminded of this great divide between those whose Shepherd is the Lord and those who do not belong:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

                                                                                                                   John 3:16-18 

Do you belong to Christ? Can you say, “The Lord is my Shepherd?” Do you live by the very truths found in scripture or do you march to the beat of the world and its philosophies? Why not begin today by asking God to be your Savior, your Shepherd, and your Guide!