"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:11).

Who is our shepherd? Is it Jesus, the good Shepherd? Is it the One who knows His sheep by name--the One who would care for His sheep even if it meant dying for them and their needs?

Or is it someone less loving; someone who might lead us in paths of righteousness for a while but desert us when the going gets rough? Could it be one who would fail to recognize us in time of greatest need? Is it one who might not risk what it takes to bring us back from the brink of destruction?

Most of us, at some notable times in our lives--or even at periodic intervals or as a natural lifelong habit--get off the path of righteousness. As sheep tend to go their own ignorant ways, we continually err and fall into ruts of sin and foolishness. Perhaps at those times, more than at any other, we look around for a shepherd. We feebly whimper until we find a leader we can look to--one who will guide us toward security. And we feel safe in his care.

But in following any "shepherd" other than the good Shepherd, grave danger lurks. How do we really know who that person is in whom we trust? Whom does he follow? How firmly ingrained are his principles of righteousness? Is he controlled by self-interest, too? Will he ever fail?

Anyone but the good Shepherd will surely disappoint us and eventually lead us astray. Some may certainly point us in the paths of righteousness for a while, but none but the Lord Jesus is meant to be the Shepherd. Everyone else certainly will fail, and at some time step off the right path. Only the good Shepherd is sinless, so only He can be our example and guide. Only He knows and loves His sheep fully.

Only He is worthy to be followed. Only He can claim the place of our good Shepherd. KLB