Listening to the Good Shepherd 聆听好牧人的声音

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Dexu Xia

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May 16, 2026, 10:10:47 PM (5 days ago) May 16

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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; [Jesus has] come that they may have life. John 10:10

Today's Scripture John 10:1-10

Today's Insights

In John 10, Jesus exposed the agenda of Satan through those who should’ve been shepherding believers well. The endgame of false teachers is “to steal and kill and destroy,” while Christ came so we “may have life . . . to the full” (v. 10). In Ephesians 4, Paul notes that Jesus gives the church leaders “to equip his people” (v. 12) and build them up through sound teaching so that they “will no longer be . . . blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (v. 14). Today, as in Christ’s day, sincere seekers of truth aren’t exempt from the schemes of those who don’t have their best interest at heart. The Spirit will give us discernment to recognize the true voice of the Good Shepherd.

Today's Devotion

I opened my online banking app and discovered two withdrawals over $500 each, which I hadn’t made. Panicked, I called the bank and discovered my identity had been stolen. With the bank’s help, I was able to reinstate my good standing, but the experience taught me to be alert to prevent such thefts in the future.

In John 10:10, Jesus warns that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Rebuking religious leaders who opposed Him for healing on the Sabbath (9:13-15), Jesus revealed their motive: to steal, kill, and destroy. Our spiritual enemy, Satan, plots to steal our understanding of God’s grace—and the freedom Jesus’ death provides for us. Hope and help come earlier in the passage where Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd who calls His sheep by name (10:2-4). The good shepherd’s sheep “will run away from [a thief] because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (v. 5).

We sometimes find ourselves victimized by the evil in our world. But our loving God invites us into a practice of discernment where we learn to recognize and avoid the voice of our enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy. As we tune our ears to the voice of our Good Shepherd, we can trust Him to lead us to life “to the full” (v. 10).

Reflect & Pray

Where in your life is “the thief” seeking to harm you? How will you listen for the voice of the Shepherd who longs to lead you to Himself and provide abundant life?

Dear God, please help me discern the voice of the thief and instead tune my ears to Your voice.

By Elisa Morgan

“盗贼来，无非是要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；[耶稣]来了，是要叫羊得生命。”（约翰福音 10:10 ）

今日经文：约翰福音 10章1-10节

今日洞见: 在约翰福音第10章中，耶稣借着那些本应好好牧养信徒的人，揭露了撒旦的阴谋诡计。假教师最终目的是“偷窃、杀害、毁坏”，而基督降世，却是为了叫我们“得生命……并且得的更丰盛”（10节）。保罗在以弗所书第4章中指出，耶稣赐下教会领袖，是为了“成全圣徒”（12节），并通过纯正的教导来建立他们，使他们“不再作小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切异端的风摇动，飘来飘去”（14节）。当今世道与基督的时代一样，真诚寻求真理的人有时也会被那些不怀好意之人的阴谋伤害。我们需要圣灵帮助，使我们能分辨出真出于那好牧人的声音。

今日灵修我打开手机银行应用软件，发现有两笔超过500美元的提款记录，而这些交易并非我本人所为。我惊慌失措地给银行打去电话，结果发现我的身份信息遭到了盗用。在银行的协助下，我得以恢复了账户的正常状态；但这番经历教会了我必须保持警惕，以防日后再次遭遇此类盗窃。

在约翰福音 10章10节中，耶稣发出警告：“盗贼来，无非是要偷窃、杀害、毁坏。”耶稣在斥责那些因他在安息日医治病人而与他作对的宗教领袖时（9章13-15节），揭露了他们的真实动机：即偷窃、杀害和毁坏。我们的属灵仇敌撒旦，正处心积虑地企图偷走我们拥有的对上帝救恩的启示，并夺去耶稣代替我们受死为我们换来的自由。然而，希望与帮助就在这段经文的前半部分：耶稣在此自称为“好牧人”，他按着名字呼唤自己的羊（10:2-4）。好牧人的羊“不跟着生人，因为不认得他的声音，必要逃跑”（5节）。有时我们发现自己成了世间邪恶的受害者，然而，我们那位充满慈爱的上帝正邀请我们操练“分辨”的能力，借此，我们学习去辨识并避开那仇敌的声音；因为那仇敌一心只想偷窃、杀害并毁灭。当我们侧耳倾听那位“好牧人”的声音时，便能全然信靠祂，深信祂必引领我们得着“丰盛”的生命（10节）。

反思与祷告 “那盗贼”正在你生命的哪个领域中策划要加害于你？我们的大牧人何等渴望将你引向祂自己，并赐予你丰盛的生命！你将如何侧耳倾听祂引领你的声音？

亲爱的上帝，求祢帮助我分辨出那盗贼的声音，从而学会倾听祢的声音。