He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

People who don’t know Jesus, don’t know the sound of His Voice.  They don’t know the love He has for us that is far beyond human forms of love.  His love is hard to grasp—until we believe.  Then the more we realize the depths of His love, an intimate, growing loving relationship with Him blossoms into new perspectives of what is beautiful!  We discover that the more our love grows for Him, we are loving others more deeply, more than we thought possible!  It even becomes easier to “love our enemies and pray for them” to have this Love.

Unbelievers don’t know the joy and peace that Jesus gifts believers right in the middle of life’s traumas.  “Why are smiling, are you up to something?” People often ask me this question while I’m merely thinking of how much Jesus helps me through every problem and trying circumstance or I’m just grateful that He walks with me and talks with me…

Jesus is indeed the Good Shepherd of my life.  I am one of His sheep who mindlessly leaves the path at times, distracted by the world pulling me in different directions.  He shows me Truth when the threat of deception by the enemy looms over me.  When I stray, He runs after me and pulls me back.  His love drives away my fears.

I know Him and I hear His Voice speaking through His Holy Spirit who lives deep within my soul.   The Good Shepherd speaks peace to me when I am anxious and afraid.  He speaks wisdom when I am confused.  He makes a way through rocky places to show me the right path.

The Lord is My Shepherd.  I shall not want. 

Jesus is everything I long for and everything I need.

John 10, The Message

He Calls His Sheep by Name

^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 rustlers, 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.”

^19-21 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?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who willing laid down his life for His sheep.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) ALL sheep who believe and follow The Good Shepherd are saved for eternity! 

“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.”—Jesus

Life worth living happens because of God’s unfailing, relentless, unconditional Love! Jeus is our Hope of life forever.  He provides Peace “not of this world” along with Joy unexplainable through all circumstances; given freely to all who believe, hear His voice, and depend on His guidance!

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
None other has ever known

Psalm 23 –A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Lord,

You are my Good Shepherd!  I’m yours.  I’m listening.  I’m following your Voice as a response to You.  You have given me even more reasons today not to fear or be anxious but to be eternally grateful.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  You didn’t bring us this far to leave us—that’s not your way.  You are the Way to Truth that gives Life forever!

In Jesus Name, Amen

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
None other has ever known