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The Shepherd Calls from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Jesus Christ said He was the Good Shepherd and that He calls His sheep by their name. He knows the name of each of us. Isn't that beautiful? He knows you, and He speaks to you. We get to hear His voice.

(John 10:1–5 NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the 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. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

We are part of His flock, and He will speak to us and lead us if we are paying attention. Too many times, though, we become distracted by something around us and forget He is there. Then He and the flock move on without us. We are to stay close to Him, for He is the Leader of the sheep.

We have a dog named Jasmine. She loves to go on a walk in the yard with her pack. Yet, she is still a puppy, and every blade of grass apparently has a different scent she needs to stop and research. She always has her head to the ground, busy collecting her new data, while the pack moves on without her. Soon we are way ahead of her, and she looks up, startled like she had no idea that could happen. It can be much the same with us following Jesus.

Sheep get lost. They have their head to the ground concentrating on something while the rest of the flock moves on without them. Eventually, when they look up from the grass, they are alone, and they freak out.

It's a dangerous place to be, for there is strength and protection in numbers. A lone sheep attracts the wolves, for it will be an easy takedown. The wolves aren't looking for an epic battle but an easy lunch. When you are separated from the flock of God, you may become their next meal. So stay close to the Shepherd.

(1 Peter 5:8 NKJV)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

When sheep are wandering alone, they are usually scared. Easily terrified, and rightly so, for the enemy is already preparing a place for them on his grill. It is the Shepherd who protects His sheep and drives away the wolves. He will lay His life down for them.

(Luke 17:26–30 NKJV)  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

The cares of the world sometimes overcome our spiritual senses. We lose our focus on eternity. We have our heads down to the grass. Completely oblivious that the Lord and His flock are moving on without us. The people in Noah's time were busy enjoying their lives until the flood came and took them all away. Only Noah had made God a part of his life, so only he and his family were saved.

Fortunately, the Lord understands that His sheep get lost sometimes, and He is diligent about finding them.

(Luke 15:4–7 NKJV)  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

See, when we get lost, the enemy begins to attack our minds and tell us that the Lord is angry with us. That He doesn't want us to come back anyway. He points at our past failures and attempts to make us feel ashamed. Like Adam and Eve hiding in the garden, soon we run from the Lord like He is our enemy.

Yet, all the while, Jesus is out there searching for us, calling our name. We occasionally hear Him in the distance. We feel a tug, a yearning to return to His flock in our hearts. We should call out to Him while He is still searching.

(Ezekiel 34:11 NKJV)  'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. When we are part of the Lord's flock, He takes care of us. He defends us when enemies approach. He provides the food and water to sustain us and takes care of the injured. When the Shepherd found His lost sheep in the parable, He joyfully put it on His shoulders and carried it back to the flock. The lost sheep was more than livestock to Him, for He had given that sheep a name, and He had been searching for it.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You today and want to be a part of Your flock! Please include me, Lord. Don't pass me by. Forgive me for becoming distracted, and help me keep my ears open to Your voice in the future. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!