​

Ask God: In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who is willing to lay down His life for His sheep. Jesus contrasts Himself with the hired hand who flees when trouble appears. Let us acknowledge who Jesus is and give Him all the glory.

Good Evening Reader,

As we approach the end of 2025, I sincerely hope you have had a good year and God has blessed you mightily and powerfully. Next week, we will start another year giving glory to God.

Merry Christmas.

All Glory to God.

Elvin

The Good Shepherd: A Love That Never Runs Away

When Love Chooses to Stay

Bible Text: John 10:11-18

In today's busy world, most of us don't really learn what love is until life gets really tough.

Your challenge may come in the form of a serious health issue, a sudden job loss, or a marriage under strain. Life has a way of presenting unique challenges, and answers don't come quickly, leaving our strength feeling thin. These moments reveal something important about the people around us.

Some people come closer and make themselves available. They don't have solutions to our problems, but they make their presence available. Others slowly fade back—not because they don't care, but because their discomfort exposes the limits of their commitment and compassion.

That difference—the difference between staying and fleeing—is at the heart of what Jesus teaches in John 10:11–18. When Jesus spoke about shepherds, He used imagery that His listeners understood. But He was doing far more than describing life; He was revealing the kind of love He offers and the kind of love He expects believers to learn.

The Shepherd Who Does Not Flee

Jesus makes a revealing statement: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Who is this someone willing to lay down His life for the sheep?

Then Jesus draws a sharp contrast. The hired hand works for pay. He may perform the tasks well, but when danger appears, he is out the door. Why? Because the sheep are not his. He has no relationship or commitment to see the job through, no matter what. The hired hand is only committed to himself.

That distinction still plays out in everyday life. There is a difference between a supervisor who sees people as replaceable and a mentor who stays invested when an employee makes mistakes. There is a difference between friends who show up for celebrations and friends who show up when grief enters the room. There is a difference between religious obligations that are convenient and faithfulness that walks with you through your pain.

Jesus is clear: He is not distant. He does not disengage when we falter. He does not withdraw when our lives become complicated. He moves toward us, especially when we are afraid and hurting. That is when His shepherd's heart is most visible.

Known, Not Managed

Jesus goes deeper: "I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father."

In Jesus' day, multiple flocks were often gathered into a shared pen at night. In the morning, each shepherd would call out, and only his sheep would respond. They knew his voice. He knew them well enough to notice immediately if one was missing.

This kind of relationship is built on trust formed over time. The sheep had followed the shepherd through all their challenges, whether it was hot or cold weather or during times of danger. They had learned that his voice meant safety.

That kind of knowing still exists in our lives today. A spouse who senses something is wrong before a word is spoken. A close friend who hears "I'm fine" and knows better. He understands because real knowing comes from their shared history and faithful presence.

Jesus knows us like that. He knows the fears we don't articulate, the regrets we carry quietly, the doubts we work hard to hide. He knows us intimately, our past and our present, as well as our strong points and our weak points in our faith. He does not turn away. He loves us fully because He knows us completely.

When we learn to listen for His voice—in Scripture, in prayer, and through the Holy Spirit—we recognize His voice, not because it is loud, but because it is consistent with His character: truth spoken with grace.

A Shepherd for More Than One Flock

Then Jesus says something that would have unsettled His listeners: "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen." What does He mean by "other sheep?"

For many in Israel, God's love was understood primarily for the Jewish people. Jesus dismantles that assumption. His care extends far beyond the familiar boundaries of who you are and who your ancestors were.

This was not a compromise. It was the fulfillment of the Word of God. God's promise had always been bigger than one group.

Sometimes, we still wrestle with this today. It is easy to limit grace to people who look like us, think like us, or agree with us. But Jesus stretches our vision. His love reaches neighbors we avoid, coworkers who frustrate us, family members who disappoint us, and people whose lives make us uncomfortable.

Following Jesus means resisting the urge to draw small circles. It means learning to see every person as someone He was willing to lay His life down for. Truth remains firm—but compassion must remain wide.

Each of us was made in the likeness and image of God. Even in our differences, we are God's children. It is God's desire that we look out for His children.

Love as a Choice, Not an Accident

Jesus closes with a powerful statement: "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." Jesus had a choice. No one made Him lay down His life for you and me.

Jesus' commitment was not tragedy overtaking Him. This act was intentional, governed by God's love.

We understand this kind of love instinctively when we see it lived out. We see it in a parent sacrificing for a sick child. Or someone setting aside personal plans to care for their aging parents. Love is the believer choosing faithfulness to another when walking away would be easier.

These types of decisions are not impulsive. They are love in action. Often, they are costly choices made because love is stronger than comfort.

We see this in Jesus' death on the cross. It was not forced; it was chosen. He valued our redemption more than His own comfort and safety.

All believers face these types of choices every day. We choose forgiveness over resentment, and service over convenience. It would be easier for the believer to run and hide, but instead, he stands faithfully rather than escape.

Real love always costs something. But never forget, running in the face of fear also has its costs.

The Shepherd Who Stays

Jesus' words about the good shepherd are not a lot of hot air. His words show us a window into His heart. He stays when others leave because of His vast love. He knows us fully and loves us faithfully, and His love reaches farther than we would ever imagine. His death on the cross was deliberate, not accidental.

I have seen Jesus' shepherding love in deeply personal ways recently as my wife has been diagnosed with dementia. Family and friends have surrounded us with love and compassion and many, many prayers. They cannot fix what is happening—and they know that. But they are present, available when needed. They have shown their love through their calls, their visits, and their prayers.

Their presence matters more than anything. Knowing someone will answer the phone means we are not alone on our journey. This is shepherd-like love, the love that Christ has for each of us.

Our faithful Lord and Savior, our Jesus.

In a world of conditional relationships, Jesus gives us something rare—a love that does not withdraw when life becomes difficult, that does not quit when we fail, that does not measure our worth by usefulness or performance.

And as His followers, we are called to reflect that same love—not perfectly, but intentionally. To stay when leaving would be easier. Staying builds a real community of love. It widens our compassion for each other. Because of Jesus, we choose love not only when it feels good, but when it costs us something.

That is what it means to follow the Good Shepherd.

Elvin

Ask God For Help

Christian faith

PS. Share your newfound knowledge with you friends.

Reader,

Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose.

Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family.

Grow in the knowledge of God.

Elvin

Send your comments to elvin.aycock@AskGodForHelp.net and let me know what you think of the lessons.

Go to: www.AskGodForHelp.net

To See More Living Life Lessons

​

​