Journal Entry ~ 10/08/19

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 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. - John 10:27-29

We are sheep because God acts, not because of anything we choose to do. God chooses us and transforms our hearts, which inclines us to love what Jesus loves. He takes out our hearts of stone and puts in a soft heart, he breaks our pride and humbles us to the God-exalting truth that He reigns over all. 

It is no accident that we are called sheep: we are not wise in ourselves; we need a shepherd to save us and to guide us.  There are some of us who are tempted by Satan to question whether or not we are His sheep, but it is in our response to the verse that we can find the answer. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." When He speaks, if you are drawn to listen and to follow, you are a sheep! This is the evidence that you are born of God: that you listen eagerly to His words and follow Him. 

The beautiful promise of this verse is that if we do follow Him, Jesus will not let our faith fail. He has promised us that if we know Him, He knows us, and He pursues those He loves. He has not left us to fight for faith alone, we don't need to rely only on ourselves. He has promised that His sheep will be preserved and we will never perish. 

No matter what stands in front of you today, no matter the trials you endure, He stands in that fight with you. You will not be overcome by your struggles. Remember in that battle, He has already won. He has already granted us eternal life with Him. Keeping this eternal perspective as we walk through those day to day trials is how He keeps our faith from failing.


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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