My Sheep Know My Whistle

The other night I got a call from a friend to tell me my dog Chloe was at her house visiting. My wife and I live on a golf course and since Chloe was a puppy I have let her out at night to walk and explore on the golf course outside our back fence. Usually she is gone for about 10 minutes or so and then comes back in the open gate all on her own. If she doesn’t I just whistle a few times and she comes running. Every once in a while she will go (without permission) to my in-laws house or my friend who live across the golf course a couple doors down from each other. Chloe knows where both houses are and will leave the golf course and go visit them occasionally while she is out making her rounds. They both have dogs and they dog sit for my wife and I when we are out of town so Chloe is very comfortable with them and enjoys her stays.

I asked my friend to try something. I told her to go out in her front yard and I would go outside and whistle and for her to watch what Chloe does while my friend and I remained on the phone. I walked outside onto the golf course and whistled as loud as I could and my friend started laughing. She said as soon as I whistled, Chloe bolted for home so fast my friend didn’t even see her take off. My fiend immediately thought of the story of the Good Shepherd in John 10:27 where Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” In my case it was my dog and my whistle.

Chloe is a lot like a sheep, she is docile but very skittish. She won’t come to just anyone but she will always come to me. Jesus told His listeners He was the Good Shepherd because He loved His sheep (which are the people who follow Jesus) and cares for them so much He would give His very life to save them. The story of the Good Shepherd took on new meaning for me personally the other night when my friend shared with me my dogs response. I am very much aware that sheep are not the smartest of animal in God’s kingdom and that sheep are among the most fearful which is why the sheep’s response to Jesus is so meaningful. The sheep had to know something.  

Jesus says His sheep know His voice and that they follow Him. The only way that will happen is because the sheep know they are loved and cared for and that the Good Shepherd won’t leave the sheep no matter what. Jesus laid His life down for the sheep to save them and His sheep know that Jesus always has their  best interest in mind no matter what. My dog Chloe trusts me because I have raised her since she was a puppy. She knows that I love her and care for as I have done so her whole life and thats why she listens to my voice, why she comes when I call, or whistle. People, like sheep and even dogs will go to the one who loves them most.

When you realize how much Jesus loves you and cares for you and that He laid His life down for you, the natural response is to come when He calls you and to follow where He leads you because when you do you too will say with full assurance of heart…

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 23:1-6

I LOVE YOU!