Read
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
Reflect
Most of us know the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. It’s a tale many children learn early, usually from parents trying to drive home a simple truth: when someone becomes known for lying, it’s hard to believe them—even when they’re finally telling the truth.
In short, a young shepherd is given responsibility for a town’s sheep. Out of boredom, he repeatedly cries out that a wolf is attacking. Each time, the townspeople rush to help, only to discover there was never any danger. When a wolf truly does appear, no one believes him, and the flock is devastated. The lesson is clear: “No one believes a liar, even when he’s telling the truth.”
But there’s an overlooked detail in that story—the shepherd was bored.
That should strike us as odd. A shepherd’s work is never really finished. Sheep wander. They get distracted. They drift away. They require constant attention and care. A good shepherd stays alert because the sheep matter to him.
Sheep also know their shepherd. Over time, they learn his voice. When he calls, they recognize it as safe. They trust it, and they follow it.
The boy in the story acted like someone who had the job of watching sheep but not the heart of a shepherd. His boredom revealed his indifference. In that sense, he resembles the hired hand Jesus describes in today’s passage—someone who performs the task but lacks true commitment. When danger comes, the hired hand runs, because the sheep aren’t really his.
Jesus draws a sharp contrast. He says He is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep. They know His voice. And when danger comes, He doesn’t flee—He lays down His life for them.
That description fits us more than we might like to admit. We wander. We get distracted. We lose our way. And yet, our Shepherd never stops caring. He never stops calling. The challenge for us is learning to listen—to distinguish His voice from all the others competing for our attention—and to trust that where He leads is always the right direction.
This week, thank the Lord for being your Good Shepherd. Pray for ears that are attentive to His voice, a heart that trusts His leading, and the courage to follow where He calls.
Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
