John 10:1-18 was the reading in my devotional today.  Before I started, I asked Holy Spirit to stop me, highlight to me, what He wanted me to focus on. Then, I started reading. 

John 10:1-18 NKJV

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

¹⁷ “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

I read the passage over twice, and each time He stopped me on verse 14:

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

I chewed on what it meant to know and be known and thanked Him that we can know Him and that He knows us.  Psalm 139:1-18 came to mind.  Here is a taste, but go ahead and read the whole passage.

 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. Psalm 139:1-4

After reading and meditating on John 10:1-18, I asked the Lord,

“How can I enter more deeply into intimacy with You?”

Take moments throughout your day.  Be still and listen.  Come to Me and keep coming.

You are deeply loved.  Not the brief, “Love ya!”  But the lay down My life kind of love.  You were worth the price I paid.  I would do it again if needed, but it’s DONE.  Once for ALL!

Continue to walk with Me, and I will show you how to live known and knowing.  It is My joy to know you, to hear your voice. I can pick you out of a multitude regardless of what you are wearing or doing.  My spirit illuminates you as a blazing candle on the lampstand of My love.

My sheep hear My voice and follow Me.  Listen, Hear, and Follow.  This is the cycle of life in My Kingdom, My house.  There is freedom in the house of the LORD.  Freedom from accusation and bondage.  Freedom to BE who I’ve created you to be, fully aligned to My ways in joy, doing My will.  I am not a hard taskmaster, but a forever friend and lover of your soul.  Come and follow Me—your Lord, your Shepherd, your Friend.

Shalom ♥