So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing 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. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
John 10:7-18, ESV
"And now, O timid soul, be at rest! The blood-red brand which
is upon you is a sure token that you are safe. He cannot have done so much for
you to lose you now. In all moments of peril or dread, softly murmur His name,
Jesus! Jesus! and He will at once comfort you by His presence and by His voice,
which all the sheep know; and this shall be His assurance: 'My sheep shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand' (John 10:28).
"Hand over to Him all that breaks the stillness of your
spirit, though it be but a gnat sting; and take from Him His own deep sweet
rest."
~The Shepherd Psalm, F. B. Meyer, Kindle locations 271 and 305
