Sheep don’t know a gate from a fence row. As a midwestern sheep farmer, I can tell you this for certain. A recent run-in with a wayward sheep proves my point. Because the proverbial grass is always greener on the other side, our sheep are constantly stretching their necks to try to nibble the grass outside the fence. Occasionally, one will barrel through the wire to get to the “good stuff” she’s been denied.
So it was that we discovered one of our sheep outside the pen one hot day this summer. The solution should have been easy. We simply opened the gate. But due to stubbornness or oblivion, the ewe remained outside the fold. We called and whooped, summoning her back to the comfort and safety of her flock. Instead, she kept ramming herself into the fence. Time and time again. The gate was wide open, but she defaulted to futile attempts to make her own way.
Creation is constantly teaching us (Romans 1:20), and when it comes to revealing who Jesus is, sheep are especially good instructors. No wonder Jesus frequently asked us to envision sheep pens as He revealed His identity as “the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). Long before Jesus spoke these words, David, once a shepherd, saw the character of the Lord (and his own identity) illustrated through his flock: “The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need” (Psalm 23:1).
The theme woven throughout Scripture is this: we are like sheep, prone to wander from the fold in search of false hope that can never fully satisfy. Because our Shepherd is good, the gate to salvation is open, but we’ll never find it on our own. We try to be self-sufficient, to do all the good deeds, and we may even convince ourselves for a time that we’ve got our stuff together more than someone else. But the reality is, when left to our own devices, we will just keep ramming ourselves up against false hope and good intentions.
Jesus shows us the gate—no, actually, Jesus is the gate. He is the way. Listen for His call. Submit to His leading. Quit stubbornly ramming yourself up against your own plans. Instead, look to Jesus and enter in. He whispers to us, “I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture” (John 10:9).
Thank you Lord for having me lie on green pastures. Being my shepherd and going before me in everything I do.
This is so good! It reminds me to keep trusting in the Lord no matter what and stop leaning on my own understanding. It’s hard sometimes but I’m going to remember this study next time I want to make my own plans. Love this.
I hadn’t noticed before that throughout scripture the sheep are described as going out and coming in – all with their shepherd. I’d always focused on the salvation part of being in the gate. But Jesus guides us into the gate for safety, and out into pasture for adventure, enjoyment, nourishment, and for His calling and will. The key is staying within the reach of His voice! But also thank you that He loves us enough to go find us when we’ve gone beyond it. Loved the combination of scriptures today!
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Thank you Lord for speaking to me and letting me know your voice.
These verses stood out to me (John 10:4-5) and reminded me of my own run-in with sheep. I’ll share the story below the verses:
4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead, they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.
I had to watch sheep for friends while they were out of town. During one of my watches, the sheep broke out…at NIGHT. Trying to get them back into their pen and to keep them from eating all the vegetation in my friend’s yard was a nightmare. I had no idea how to wrangle the sheep back in and they knew it! All my attempts involved running at them, waving my hands to hopefully guide them back into the gate. They saw me coming and immediately darted off. Soon, I was exhausted and the yard was being destroyed.
I had a friend next door to me who came to my rescue. Carrying a large bale of hay, he called to the sheep and they immediately flocked to him. They followed him into the gate and we were able to secure them there.
After I calmed down from this situation, those verses came to me. I practically lived a real-life situation of John 10:4-5.
This situation reminded me to always listen to Jesus’s voice over others. I often listen to the voice of stress, anxiety, negative opinions of others, and it has me running everywhere, sometimes feeling very lost. But when I listen to Jesus’s voice, I am led in the right direction.
Jesus is my shepherd and he knows what is best for me. I must always follow him :)
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Love ur real life example!
I don’t want to be wandering. I know what it’s like to be searching and searching and not finding. I was 17 years old when Jesus became the Lord of my life. Through ups and downs and searching and wandering I just can’t see my life without Jesus. And at times it may seem like it might be the harder way or more the challenging way especially when it comes to waiting but having been where I’ve been the hardships in life I can’t see any other way but to follow Jesus. I want to be the sheep that listens to HIS VOICE. No other.
Erin, having raised my own sheep as a teenager your words brought back memories of sheering and feeding and sweet baby lambs. Sheep are not smart and easily led by each other. But,when their master is loving and cares for them they follow and are comforted by the voice they know tends to them. Lord help me to listen only for your voice and follow you and to see the path you have put before me Jesus so that I can enter through you and with you with love and abounding joy. Praise to our God ladies who is the Way.
I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
This doesn’t fit with the writer’s stubborn sheep story but here we go. God wants us, desires for us to have life and have it in abundance. It doesn’t say He wants this only in Heaven. He wants it now for all of His sheep.
How does one have life and have it in abundance? Well, I use to wonder about that and wonder if I was there or not. I know now that it is through studying and applying God’s Word. Deep study and obedience. Forgive that person that hurt us. Give to others and then give some more. Let the reason for your joy be on your lips. Love God. Love others. Move from thoughts and words to actions.