May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:11-18)

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: A popular radio host often identifies herself with the words, "I am my kid's mom." We certainly cannot agree with many of the views of this famous mom, but we do agree, at least, with this one phrase. It's meant to show that parenting is not just something we do; it's what we are. Parenting is a 24-hour job. We dare not neglect this important task that we have, for our children will be what we make of them. Yet, as Christians we understand that even our best effort will not be enough. The Creator gave our children an immortal soul demanding more than any sinful mom and dad can give. That is why today's reading is wonderful news for us. It speaks of the Great Care-taker, the Lord Jesus Christ. And the very best and most important work that we can do as parents is to lead our children into his arms. The goal of every Christian parent is to raise children who are able to say, I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd. And we will effectively do this only if we are able to say for ourselves, I am a sheep of the good shepherd. So may the Lord strengthen this conviction in our hearts today. Our central thought: I AM A SHEEP OF THE GOOD SHEPERD. Let's listen as the Lord Jesus describes the blessings of being one of his sheep.

Me he knows, and I know him. Jesus says, I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Of the two "know's" that Jesus speaks of-to be known by Jesus or to be know Jesus-the 1^st is better by far. Yesterday our Pioneer group was at the Tiger game. We got to go down on the field and some Tigers players were walking around. I was just some 10 ft. from Lance Parish. I know him, who he is. But it benefits me nothing. Now, if he would know me, perhaps he could make it possible for me to see some benefits others could not-special tickets or access to restricted areas.

I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd, not so much because I know him, but because he knows me. I know my sheep, he says. That means more than just know about. The Good Shepherd knows with affect. He knows us. More, he is concerned about us. Even more, he acts in such a way as to affect us positively. His work of laying down his life and taking it up again has affected my status with God now and forever--I am adopted into God's family. The Good Shepherd knows me with effect. He is an influence in my life. We influence our children for good and bad, for a while. The Good Shepherd's influence is always good and lasting into eternity. His affection for us has effected us so that now we say, I know him. More than merely know about him, I know him, acknowledge him as true in all he says. I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd; me he knows, and I know him. (See John 6:44)

With him I am safe. Safety is a big issue for parents. We spend countless dollars on gadgets and have all kinds of laws to protect our children. But living in our sinful world we are all too aware that every diligence on our part will not keep our children safe. That's why it is vital that we place our children and ourselves in the hands of the Good Shepherd. I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd, and with him I am safe.

Our enemies are two-the hire hand and the wolf. The hired hand is not someone to whom the Good Shepherd has delegated the care of the sheep. The hired hand is the one Jesus speaks of in the opening verse of this chapter-a thief and robber. He is the opposite of the Good Shepherd. His motive is selfish. He is concerned is for himself. He hopes to affect some profit from his contact with the sheep instead of affect some good for the sheep as the Good Shepherd does. He leads away from the Shepherd. He is every voice, object, or influence that points us to the earthly, the temporary. The hired hand is everything that is anti-Christ--humanism, communism, materialism. It's closer than we realize in that sometimes the hired hand enemy is right inside of us. Our natural sinful nature deceives us inflating the value of things in our lives and deflating the value of being Christ's sheep. It offers joy, but gives only regret. It cannot protect us from the wolf, Satan himself. Yet, how often we listen to that hired hand!

But I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd. As such I am safe. Not that the hired hand and Satan have been removed from my presence, but that Christ has made a public spectacle of them; triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15). Our safety has a price. The Good Shepherd says, I lay down my life for the sheep. He places himself as substitute, dying the death we deserve. Dying for us so that we will not die. In his salvation I am safe. This is not the safety that knows no anxious moments in this world. It is the safety of knowing that we are the redeemed children of God in Christ, and if God did not spare his own Son, how precious we are in his sight! How very well will he keep his promise: God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4) I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd. With him I am safe.

I have a home in his flock now and forever. There is that something we call "home" that the Lord has given us when he gave us family. It's hard to describe. It is often taken for granted. It is never fully realized because of our sinful weakness and inability to be what God wanted us to be. Yet it is there, especially so when home is a Christian home.

What we work and strive for on earth, the Lord has given fully and completely to all who can say, I am a sheep of the Good Shepherd. In his flock, the Holy Christian Church, I have a home. A home that never lacks a parent--I am with you always, says the head my home. Here I am well supplied. He leads me to green pastures of his word where he gives me what is needed and lasts. Here I will live forever. Not even earthly death can take me away from this home. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)