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I AM: A Seven-Day Devotional in the Book of John

Passion Equip

7 Days

I AM the Good Shepherd

Day 4

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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

John 10:11-14

Think about a shepherd. What is their primary responsibility? Shepherds tend to their sheep. A good shepherd takes great responsibility for the safety and welfare of his flock. He will guide his sheep through the day, protecting them from walking the wrong way, eating the wrong thing, or wandering into danger. In a sense, the shepherd is protecting the sheep from themselves. The shepherd also lies attentive among his sheep to defend against any threats predators may pose in the night. Jesus says to His sheep, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

Jesus looks after His own like a shepherd does his sheep.

The truth is that God’s desire was not to delegate this work of caring for us to someone else. It is quite the opposite. He takes it personally. God humbled himself so that we could know His love and fatherly affection. In His perfect plan, God stepped out of Heaven to take on flesh so that we could know and be known by Him. If you are reading this right now, God wants to know you. His desire to know you was so strong that Jesus, our good shepherd, stepped into our story to save us from ourselves through His death and resurrection.

In Psalm 23, David writes, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” This statement can be true for you as well. A sheep under the care of a good shepherd can move through each day with the peace that comes in knowing He is your protector. Your story may seem anything but safe right now but know that your shepherd is watching. He will provide for you, and he will protect you.

Our prayer is that you would feel the comfort and safety that comes from being known and loved by God.

You serve a God who held nothing back in order to restore a right relationship with His creation. You can trust the shepherd who gave up His life to guide your daily life.

How can you remind yourself daily of the love displayed in the life and death of Jesus?

What area of your life needs to be surrendered to the care of the shepherd?

Scripture References

25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26Jesus answered,

“Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29Jesus answered,

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

30So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32Jesus said to them,

“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

35Then Jesus declared,

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

7Therefore Jesus said again,

“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

6Jesus answered,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

25Jesus said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes

so that it will be even more fruitful.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

Passion Equip

Born from 20+ years of ministry, Passion Equip exists to empower a generation to live out their eternal purpose in the midst of everyday life, keeping the name and renown of Jesus as the desire of our souls.