Newsletter January 2026 Part 2
True Shepherd – true sheep
Staff at a supermarket in a small rural town in Germany were surprised by the arrival of a large number of very unusual customers – a group of about 50 sheep had left the flock and made their way through the entrance and into the supermarket’s aisles. When asked by a media reporter, the shepherd, whose sheep had absconded from the rest of the flock for this shopping spree, replied that they had evidently followed a customer into the store.
In John 10, Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples as the expected true Shepherd (Ezek. 34:23). He is the doorkeeper of the sheepfold; He knows His sheep and calls each one by name. Therefore, the sheep recognise Him. They know His voice and know that He will take care of them and will not abandon them in the face of danger. They will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (v. 5) Speaking to His opponents, Jesus later says, “… you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (vv. 26-27)
Do we know the true Shepherd’s voice? Do we spend time in His presence where we hear Him call our name, reassuring us that He is present to guide and protect us. Have we become so acquainted with His voice that we will immediately recognise an imposter? Do we study His word to determine His divine purpose, or do we follow our own understanding and our personal desires? In the case of the lost sheep in Germany, the shepherd guessed that they had picked up a scent of something that the one they followed was carrying in his bags – possibly some kind of herb. A shepherd clearly understands what might tempt his sheep to go astray! What are we tempted by? What desires get in the way of our walk with our Good Shepherd?
We are living in a time of uncertainty and confusion, where many people are seeking for spiritual answers. This is a great opportunity for us to share our faith in Jesus. But to do so, we must know Him ourselves, be able to discern His voice in the midst of all the confusing messages around us. And we must be able to explain to others what is truth and what is deception. Speaking of the events of the last days, Jesus warned His disciples about a coming deception accompanied by great signs and wonders, but He reassured them that those who are truly His own cannot be deceived (Matt. 24:4-5, 24).
Do you know Jesus? Do you recognise His voice? Are you able to distinguish God’s truth from a counterfeit gospel? Our priorities will determine our eternity. If we, like those shopping sheep, follow the tempting scents this world offers instead of staying with the fold and hearing the shepherd call our name, we will move away from the security of His presence and lose our way. God is seeking those who will put Him first in their lives and set their hearts on seeking His truth.
Writing to the Thessalonian believers (2:9-12), Paul warns that the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Yes, the sovereign Ruler of the universe does allow deception as a way to separate those who love the truth from those who merely follow their own desires. Yet Paul goes on to reassure those who have made up their minds to turn to the living and true God and wait for His Son from heaven (Thess. 1:9-10) that they have been sanctified by the Spirit. And he encourages them to stand fast and hold to what they have been taught. (2 Thess. 2:13-15) Have you made up your mind to follow Jesus?
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23)