John 10:1-5,11,14,15b  “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” . . .  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– . . . — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, I want to share a few thoughts about how we should live as His Sheep.

First of all, you need to be sure that you identify His voice. There are many voices out there. The voices of the world, the strangers, thieves and robbers, call us to disobey the voice of God by rejecting or evading His commands. Other voices corrupt His Word in order to suit their own purposes. Where is the Shepherd’s voice? How can you identify it?

After His resurrection, Jesus left the world and ascended to the Father. Yet His voice is still here, it is still heard in the Scriptures. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, (John 5:39). Jesus said that His sheep know His voice. How? It is heard when you read the Word. It is heard when His ministers faithfully proclaim that Word. His voice is heard when fellow Christians, even children, speak that Word to others.

The voice of the Good Shepherd is a voice that leads the sheep to life. The reading above ends with Jesus saying that He had come that His sheep might have life. In the next chapter of John you can see a vivid example of His voice giving life when He said, “Lazarus, come out!” Yet the life He gives is even more than that. He gives life to the full, the certainty of dwelling in the House of the Lord forever, even after this earth is long gone.

Having identified the voice, you need to RECORD it. This doesn’t mean a mechanical recording as though you were some kind of machine. It is not something that you learn just with your head. That is how many of the scribes in Jesus’ day learned the Law. They knew what it said, but they didn’t really listen. When Jesus spoke of them, He said, “Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn 8:43-44).

The voice of your Good Shepherd is to be recorded on the mind and in the heart. Then you will be able to PLAY BACK His voice in your life. Just make sure it is HIS voice. You sometimes play back the voice of strangers when you follow the ways of this world. When you listen to the voice that says “Everyone else is doing it,” you are not listening to the voice of your Good Shepherd. And all too many sheep today have become prey to wolves. They listen to the voice of those who proclaim a different gospel, whether it be a self-seeking televangelist or a cult leader. You need to listen to the only true Good Shepherd who laid down His life to pay for your sins and was raised again to insure the salvation of all who listen to His voice.

When you PLAY BACK His voice, not only will it benefit you, but it will be for the good of those you encounter. And you PLAY BACK His voice when you keep His commands. You PLAY BACK His voice when you enjoy the pasture of His means of Grace, such as feeding on His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar to be assured that His death was your payment for sin. You PLAY BACK His voice when you look forward to being with Him forever according to His promise.

In all of this, we have God dealing with us according to His grace. He is a merciful Shepherd who gave His life for you, He never tires of talking to you, never wearies of assuring you, “I forgive you,” and never hesitates to call you away from danger. This Good Shepherd is working to keep you on the right path until He leads you home.