John 10:25-30

As someone who is in charge of a project will testify, many times decisions they have made and orders given are questioned by those who have been charged with the job.  Even little children challenge authority.  Many years ago one of my girls was spending time with their grandmother.  The child was in the car and instructed to sit down.  (This was in the day before child restraint laws.)  Her response was, "You're not the boss of me."

I cannot count the number of times I defied authority and lived to regret it.  It takes wisdom to get to the place of recognizing, believing and ultimately obeying those who have earned and deserve our trust.  Experience is generally the teacher of this lesson.  The Jews in Jesus' day had experienced, but still they were stubborn, they did not believe nor trust His authority. “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." (John 10: 25-26)

I cannot imagine the feeling of being told by Jesus, "You are not my sheep." I know there are times I too, challenge His authority by taking my life into my own hands, by ignoring the command to, "pray continually," or to turn my back on my neighbor in their time of need.  It is time I open my eyes to the reality of Jesus' love as the Shepherd of my life.  When He leads me from danger I willingly will put my hand in His.



Read the John 10:25-30 text here.  Listen to the text reading here.