I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

John 10:14 NKJV

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:10 NKJV

Sometimes, the way we approach God does not suggest we know Him for who He is. “I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD,” He said. He did not say I am a shepherd, but the good shepherd. Pause and ponder over this statement – I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. If you have a personal relationship with Christ, this will excite you.

We have called Him several names apart from what He calls Himself. We have approached Him from different perspectives apart from His real identity.

I know my sheep. He knows you, your cares, worries, concerns, strengths, aspirations, dreams, desires, fears, doubts, weaknesses and struggles. The good shepherd knows the state of each sheep and gives each sheep the care and attention required.

If you know that He knows all about you, not just the part you’re proud of and you project to the world, but even the part of you you’re not willing to admit to yourself, you will trust Him more. We will trust Him with our lives. We will trust His leading, rely more on His guidance and rest in His love. We will do more of His Word, not just the part that suits us, even those that appear inconvenient, knowing everything is for our ultimate good.

If only we know, everything He says is for our own good, nothing will be too much to give or to let go of. No instructions will be too great to carry out or too self-denying to do. If only we know Him as the good shepherd.

Recommended text for further reading:

Philippians 3: 7-10; Ephesians 1: 17-23.