November 26

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spike Jesus unto them, but they understood not what things they were which he spike unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them

9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that

they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his line for the sheep.

12 But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scatteeth the sheep

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and catcheth not for the sheep

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I 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 shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again

18 No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father.

"It is the nature of sheep to follow--not to lead. Thus would Jesus have His people 'follow Him.' His sheep are defenceless apart from Him. Hence, 1st. 'He goeth before them'--To confront danger, to provide pasture, to inspire confidence, to give rest. 2d. 'They follow Him.' The shepherd's call will rally all his own from flocks of hundreds. 'They know his voice.' Only His own will follow Him--He is a stranger to the rest. If we are not of His flock, 'there is no beauty in Him that we should desire Him.' These are the tests of your belongings: (1) You know His voice. No other can attract you from peril or temptation, or greener pastures. You know His voice in rebuke and in chastisement. (2) You follow Him. He is never a stranger, wherever met. His fresh tracks are pledges of His nearness, your safety and help. This is the supreme value of a godly life--it follows only where it knows. Has certainty, therefore liberty. It flees from a stranger--it follows no voice but His. Hearing that, it goes anywhere, and is safe as if in heaven."—Rev. John Parker.

"I think our Father in heaven calls us by name. He knows how to think and speak of us individually. Every one of us stands before Him as different from all other beings. You have a right and title in God just as your child has in you. You have a personal relation to Him. You may come to Him as having a separate interest in Him. There is a place for you in His regard as just what you are. He is your own. He made you distinct from everybody else, and He meant that you should trust in Him for your peculiar wants."—H. W. Beecher.

Closet Promise.—My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand—John x 27, 28.

"When my sins, in aspect dread, Meet like waters o'er my head, Seen in light of God's own face, Parker for His offered grace; When I sigh for healing rest, By a hopeless yoke oppressed; When I meet some foe unknown, Shall I find myself alone? Hear the Shepherd's voice of old,

Looking on His helpless fold: 'Every feeble sheep I know; Life eternal I bestow; None shall pluck them from my hand.' Shall that word of promise stand? 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, Not My words,' so I hint doth say. In death's grasp 'His truth shall be Shield and buckler unto me.'"