John 10:1-21

1-5 "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."

6-10 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

11-13"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him.

14-18"I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They'll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father."

This kind of talk caused another split in the Jewish ranks. A lot of them were saying, "He's crazy, a maniac—out of his head completely. Why bother listening to him?" But others weren't so sure: "These aren't the words of a crazy man. Can a 'maniac' open blind eyes?"

As I read through this passage things hit me right away:

• Because I'm His, God will care for me (v.10)
  
• God gives me freedom to come and go (v.10)
• God wants to give me a life better than I ever dreamed of (v.10)
• As Jesus cares for me I am to care for others whom He's put me in charge of; my sons, my employees, etc. Jesus puts me ahead of himself and is willing to sacrifice for me (v. 11 & v.14)

I want to think on these things and see what God wants from me this day.

I'll see if I can find some verses that use the same words as John 10:10. When I look in the NASV I see John 5:39-41 as a scripture where, in verse 40 the word "life" is the same life Jesus is talking about giving us in John 10:10:

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;

40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

41"I do not receive glory from men;

I especially like the way these verses are paraphrased in The Message:

39-40"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.

41-44"I'm not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?

Oh Father, help me not be like that. Please quicken my spirit that I don't get so involved in my agenda today that I miss the forest for the trees . Help me to see your agenda for my day and not be so busy that I can't sacrifice my personal convenience or what I'm wanting to focus on for my sons or anyone else who You want me to do something for.

Thank You Father that You want to take care of me and give me a life that is better than I ever dreamed of. Thank You so much! I know I don't deserve that and it's only because of Your goodness that You do this for me. Open my eyes Lord and help me notice all You're doing for me and giving me throughout this day. May I never be a person who doesn't even notice or appreciate Your goodness.