Sheep can do very little on their own; they can only follow what another sheep does or where the shepherd’s voice calls. Sheep are helpless and utterly reliant on the commands of their shepherd. Without a shepherd to lead them, they scatter. In Jesus’ time, the hard work of the shepherd was neither prized nor esteemed. Its labor was reserved for the lowest of the low, the less promising young men of the community.

In John 10:11, Jesus made a statement that was probably shocking, even contradictory, to the religious people standing before Him: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” In this one statement, Jesus refers to Himself as both the I am—the same almighty Yahweh who spoke to Moses in the burning bush—and a shepherd—tender, lowly, protective, and humble.

The great God of the universe is our Good Shepherd. He stoops down to lead us, to care for our needs, and to defend us. There is no shepherd like Jesus. When we wander, He pursues us relentlessly—not because of our value as helpless sheep, but because of His character.

Only the Good Shepherd lays His life down for us to protect us from the snares of deception, shame, and legalism. Only the Good Shepherd can guide us to the pasture we are all looking for—pastures of freedom, joy, contentment, and refreshment. He knows each of the sheep in His flock individually, speaking and guiding each of us in the way we need. He is not the kind of shepherd who leaves when we stray, but He is always with us and even pursues us. God’s love for His sheep is truly unfathomable.

Now, more than ever, conflicting voices are vying for our attention. Do you know the voice of the Good Shepherd? It is not the slick voice of the thief; it is not the threatening roar of the wolf; it is not the apathetic voice of the hireling (see John 10:7-13). No, it is the protective, powerful, tender, affectionate voice of the one who loved us all the way to the cross and will love us all the way to the end.

When circumstances tempt you to wander, will you trust in the Good Shepherd? Jesus knows His sheep. He knows your every weakness and limitation; He knows how to bless you and how to encourage you. You are not lost in His flock because He sees you and He knows you intimately. What pasture is God leading you to? Whether it is time to receive Christ for the first time, to receive freedom and healing, or to share your faith—follow Him!

Prayer: God, show me the areas of my life where I am afraid to follow You, the Good Shepherd. Thank You for faithfully protecting, providing for, and guiding me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15).

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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