Embracing the Good Shepherd's Love and Assurance

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Is the Good Shepherd Who Knows and Cares for Us

Jesus proclaims, “I am the good shepherd,” revealing himself as the one who knows his sheep intimately and cares for them personally. He is not a distant or indifferent leader, but one who seeks out the lost, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak. In every circumstance—whether you feel scattered, burdened, or in need of comfort—he offers himself fully, promising to gather, protect, and provide for you. His goodness is not just a concept, but a living reality that invites you to experience his love and care in the deepest places of your life. [56:16]

John 10:11, 14-15 (ESV)
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience the personal care and guidance of Jesus as your good shepherd today?

Day 2: God’s Promises to Seek, Rescue, and Restore

God’s heart as the shepherd is beautifully described in Ezekiel, where he promises to search for his sheep, rescue them from danger, bind up the injured, and bring them into a place of safety and blessing. These promises are not just for the past, but for you today—no matter how lost, broken, or scattered you may feel, God is actively seeking you out, offering healing, justice, peace, and provision. He alone can break the burdens that enslave you and cover you with his covenant of peace, inviting you to rest in his care and trust in his faithfulness. [58:12]

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 22-24, 25-31 (ESV, abridged)
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice... I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey... And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd... I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing... And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”

Reflection: Which promise from God’s shepherd heart in Ezekiel do you most need to receive and believe for yourself right now?

Day 3: The Good Shepherd’s Voice—Learning to Listen and Follow

The good shepherd’s voice is unique, powerful, and deeply personal. Scripture describes God’s voice as thunderous, majestic, gentle, and guiding—a voice that can come as a whisper or as a word behind you, leading you in the way you should go. Learning to recognize and respond to his voice is essential for following him. Amidst the noise and distractions of life, take time to become more attuned to his voice, whether it comes as a thought, an impression, a sense of peace, or a word that brings conviction and love. He desires that you know his voice so well that, like a child recognizing a parent’s call, you respond with trust and obedience. [01:06:25]

John 10:3-4, 27 (ESV)
"To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice... My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Reflection: What practical step can you take today to quiet your heart and intentionally listen for the voice of your shepherd?

Day 4: The Good Shepherd’s Hand—Safety, Presence, and Freedom from Fear

Jesus promises that no one can snatch his sheep out of his hand or the Father’s hand. His protective, guiding hand is always with you, offering safety, reassurance, and freedom from fear. In every “do not fear” in Scripture, God couples the command with the promise of his presence: “I am with you.” Like a child who finds safety in a parent’s embrace, you are invited to yield yourself fully into the hands of the good shepherd, trusting that he will never leave you nor forsake you. His presence is your security, and his hand is your refuge in every dark valley. [01:11:15]

John 10:28-30 (ESV)
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Reflection: Where in your life are you holding on to fear or control, and how can you surrender that area into the hands of Jesus today?

Day 5: The Good Shepherd’s Sacrificial Love—Laying Down His Life for the Sheep

The ultimate expression of the good shepherd’s love is his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep. Jesus chose to endure suffering, rejection, and death so that you could be rescued, healed, and restored. He did not have to do this—he chose it out of love for you personally. His sacrifice is the place of exchange: your burdens for his peace, your brokenness for his healing, your sin for his forgiveness. Because he laid down his life and took it up again, you can walk in freedom, hope, and resurrection power. [01:19:11]

Isaiah 53:4-7 (ESV)
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to receive the healing, forgiveness, or freedom that Jesus purchased for you by laying down his life?

Sermon Summary

In the midst of life’s pain, uncertainty, and longing, Jesus stands before us and declares, “I am the good shepherd.” This is not just a comforting metaphor, but a living reality for each of us. The heart of God is to gather, rescue, and tend to his people with a love that is both fierce and tender. The promises spoken through the prophet Ezekiel—of searching for the lost, binding up the injured, strengthening the weak, and bringing peace—are not distant hopes, but present invitations. Jesus steps into our stories, offering himself as the answer to every cry, every fear, and every need.

The goodness of God is not a bland or generic “good,” but the very essence of creation’s original beauty and wholeness. When Jesus calls himself the good shepherd, he is inviting us to experience a relationship marked by deep knowing and being known. He knows our names, our wounds, our dreams, and our failures. He calls us out of hiding, out of shame, and into the safety of his presence. In a world full of noise and competing voices, he speaks with a voice that is both majestic and gentle, thunderous and whispering, always personal and always loving.

To follow the good shepherd is to learn to recognize his voice above all others, to trust his hand when fear threatens to overwhelm, and to rest in the assurance that nothing can snatch us from his grasp. His promises are not empty words; they are backed by the ultimate act of sacrificial love. Jesus lays down his life for his sheep—not as a victim, but as a willing redeemer. He takes up his life again, defeating death, and offers us resurrection hope in every circumstance.

This relationship is not meant to be theoretical or distant. It is an invitation to union and communion, to intimacy with the living Christ. Only as we receive his love deeply can we radiate that love to a world in desperate need. The good shepherd is here, calling each of us by name, inviting us to feast at his table, to yield our burdens, and to walk in the fullness of his life. May we not turn away distracted or indifferent, but respond with the trust and adoration of a child, letting his love transform us from the inside out.

Key Takeaways

1. The Good Shepherd’s Promises Are Personal and Present God’s promises in Ezekiel 34 are not abstract or historical—they are living words for each of us today. Jesus seeks out the lost, binds up the wounded, and brings peace to the anxious. These are not just poetic images, but real invitations to let him meet us in our deepest needs, no matter how scattered or broken we feel. The good shepherd’s care is as personal as it is powerful. [59:42]
2. Knowing and Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice In a world saturated with noise and distraction, learning to recognize the voice of Jesus is essential. His voice may come as a thunderous declaration or a gentle whisper, but it is always marked by love, truth, and peace. Becoming familiar with his voice requires attentiveness, humility, and a willingness to respond, even when it challenges us or calls us out of our comfort zones. [66:42]
3. The Safety and Assurance of His Hand Jesus promises that no one can snatch us from his hand or the Father’s hand. This assurance is not just theological comfort, but a lived reality for those who entrust themselves to him. In every valley of fear, uncertainty, or suffering, his presence is our safety, and his promises are our anchor. Yielding ourselves into his hands is the path to true peace and freedom from fear. [71:52]
4. To Be Known and Called by Name The intimacy Jesus offers is profound: he knows us fully—our past, present, and future, our joys and our pain. He calls us by name, not as a faceless crowd, but as beloved individuals. This knowing is not just for our comfort, but to draw us into a life of purpose, belonging, and transformation. Responding to his call means coming to the table, hungry and open, ready to receive all he has for us. [75:42]
5. The Transforming Power of Sacrificial Love The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep—not out of obligation, but out of love. Jesus’ sacrifice is the ultimate act of exchange: his life for ours, his wholeness for our brokenness, his victory for our defeat. This love is not just to be admired, but received and lived out. Only as we are filled with his love can we become vessels of that love to others, radiating his goodness to a world in need. [79:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[52:10] - Worship and Testimony
[53:16] - God’s Orchestration in Community
[54:08] - The “I Am” Statements of Jesus
[54:24] - Encountering Jesus in Desperation
[55:20] - Jesus as the Good Shepherd
[56:50] - Ezekiel’s Prophecy and the Shepherd’s Promises
[58:12] - Reading Ezekiel 34: God’s Promises
[59:42] - Jesus Fulfills the Good Shepherd Prophecy
[62:39] - The True Goodness of God
[66:10] - Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice
[71:01] - The Safety of His Hand
[73:43] - Childlike Trust and Yielding
[75:42] - Being Known and Called by Name
[79:11] - The Good Shepherd’s Sacrificial Love
[84:47] - Invitation to Intimacy and Communion
[86:45] - Guided Meditation: Encountering the Good Shepherd

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 10:11-18 — (“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…”)

- Ezekiel 34:11-16, 23-31
(“I myself will search for my sheep and look after them…”)

- Psalm 139:1-6
(“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me…”)

Observation Questions

In Ezekiel 34, what specific actions does God promise to do for his sheep? (e.g., searching, rescuing, binding up, strengthening) [58:12]
According to John 10, what sets the “good shepherd” apart from the hired hand or stranger? [56:16]
How does Jesus describe the relationship between himself and his sheep in John 10? What words or phrases does he use to show intimacy? [56:16]
In Psalm 139, what are some ways the psalmist describes being known by God? [01:17:09]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says Jesus’ promises in Ezekiel 34 are “not distant hopes, but present invitations.” What does it mean for these promises to be “living words” for us today? [59:42]
The shepherd’s voice is described as both “majestic and gentle, thunderous and whispering.” Why might it be important for us to recognize the different ways God speaks? [01:06:42]
Jesus says, “I know my own and my own know me.” How does this kind of knowing go beyond just information or belief? What does it look like in real life? [56:16]
The sermon talks about Jesus laying down his life “not as a victim, but as a willing redeemer.” How does this shape our understanding of his love and sacrifice? [01:19:11]

Application Questions

The sermon invites us to let Jesus meet us in our “deepest needs, no matter how scattered or broken we feel.” Is there a place in your life right now where you feel lost, injured, or weak? What would it look like to let the Good Shepherd meet you there? [59:42]
In a world full of noise and distraction, what are some practical ways you can become more attentive to the Shepherd’s voice this week? Are there specific distractions you need to set aside? [01:06:42]
The promise that “no one can snatch us from his hand” is meant to bring real assurance. When have you struggled to trust this promise? What helps you rest in the safety of Jesus’ hand? [01:11:52]
The sermon says Jesus calls us “out of hiding, out of shame, and into the safety of his presence.” Are there areas of your life where you are still hiding or holding back from God? What would it look like to step into his presence with honesty? [01:15:42]
Jesus knows us by name and invites us to his table. How do you respond to the idea that you are personally known and called by God? Does this change how you see yourself or your purpose? [01:15:42]
The Good Shepherd’s love is described as both “fierce and tender.” How have you experienced both sides of God’s love? Is there one you find harder to receive? [01:19:11]
The sermon ends with an invitation to “yield our burdens and walk in the fullness of his life.” What is one burden you need to yield to Jesus this week? How can the group support you in this? [01:24:47]

Sermon Clips

God just weaves it together into this beautiful story of what his heart is and I was listening to all the words of the songs just going, "Oh yes, that fits with my message so well. Oh, that one fits so well, too." And so I just love that um the beauty of how God weaves all of our strengths and all of our passions and all of our heart for him together into something beautiful. [00:53:17]

I came in a desperate place to Jesus who is the great I am and allowed him to say here I am to me. And I just think this is what the these are. This is him saying here I am in all the beauty and all the goodness of who he is. And I just I believe that there's an answer to every prayer that we pray. [00:54:48]

Twice in John 10, Jesus declares, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. My heart today is that we meet this good shepherd. This is Jesus as a person. He's the person of Jesus saying, "I am the good shepherd." [00:56:16]

If we're lost and we need to be found, he is the good shepherd. If we are distressed and we need comfort, he is the good shepherd. He is the answer to every prayer, every circumstance that we face. And he offers himself fully. So just take a minute for those promises. [01:00:01]

I will seek you out. You who feel lost, you who have strayed. I will rescue you from any place you've been scattered. I will gather you and bring you into a safe place. I will bind you up if you've been injured. I will strengthen and protect you when you are weak and vulnerable. I will act in justice on your behalf. [01:00:34]

I will break the bars of that burden you and deliver you from all that enslaves you. I will banish wild beasts that surround you and threaten you in a time where we have mental health crisis in our young people. How good is this promise that he will banish every wild beast that surrounds and threatens and sometimes those wild beasts are in our own head. [01:01:08]

Only God in all his goodness can promise to answer our every prayer in this way. And it echoes what Jesus said in when he sat down when he declared those words in Isaiah. Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, proclaim the Lord's favor. [01:02:11]

The sheep follow him and they know his voice. They will listen to his voice. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. Our good shepherd is a person. He has a voice. So what does this voice sound like? It's clear from this passage that as his sheep, we need to recognize his voice to know it and follow follow it. [01:06:28]

In Deuteronomy, it talks about his voice speaking out of the midst of fire. In Psalms 29, there's this sense that is this thundering powerful voice full of majesty flashing forth in flames, shaking the wilderness. And when he speaks, everybody cries glory in response to it. I've never heard God's voice jumping out of flames before, but I've heard people who've had those encounters where they are so caught up with the voice of the Lord before them that it feels such a holy heavenly moment. [01:07:47]

When we are afraid, it is his hand that reassures us. When we're John was talking about those dark valleys, when we're in those dark valleys, if we would but just seek his hand, he promises to hold ours. I will make you lie down in safety. He says, do not fear. I will make you lie down in safety. Do not fear. I will help you. [01:12:44]

When we become tangibly aware of Jesus's consistent presence beside us, that saving arm of our good shepherd, we don't have to yield to fear. Yes, it comes and then we can give it to him. His presence reassures us that whatever dark valley we walk through, whatever peril we face, we are never alone. That is the good news of the good shepherd. [01:13:30]

Could we posture our hearts like a child and adore and trust in our good shepherd that much? Because unlike me who is valuable, God is our infalluable safety. There is no limit to how much he is there for us. His love is never ending and he will never fail us. Would we go to him, let go of all we're holding on to and yield ourself fully into his hands? [01:15:14]

He calls us by name and we have the privilege of being his sheep and following him. I imagine the disciples as he talks about this, as they hear this parable, the sheep hear his voice. He calls his sheep by name and he leads them out. For each of them he came and he personally called them. They had that moment where he walked into the sheepfold and saidf follow me. [01:16:56]

He sees your hopes. He sees your dreams. He sees your brokenness. You don't have to hide it from him. He also sees your restoration. He sees your yesterday, your today, and your tomorrow. He sees your tears. He sees those hard moments when you feel vulnerable. and he sees your laughter and he loves that too. He sees you and he knows you and that is wonderful. [01:17:36]

The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. This is the sacrificial love that he introduces us to here. Jesus makes a very significant revelation. Here he signals the trajectory he is on. We know the end of the story. The people listening to him didn't, but he outlines it really clearly and he proclaims in this moment the fullness of his love. [01:19:11]

He did it for love. He did it because he loves you personally. Each and every one of you. If I could look around the room and go and you and you and you and you and you and you and you, I would. He loves you personally. He laid down his life for you personally. He did it because he's the good shepherd. [01:22:08]

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