My Sheep

J. C. Ryle, "The Privileges of the True Christian"

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me." (John 10:27)

This verse gives the character of true Christians.

1. God's children, His real believing people, are compared
to sheep, because they are gentle, quiet, harmless and
inoffensive; because they are useful and do good to all
around them; because they love to be together, and
dislike separation; and because they are very helpless
and wandering and liable to stray.

2. Jesus calls them "My sheep," as if they were His
peculiar property. "Mine," He would have us know, by
election; "Mine" by purchase; and "Mine" by adoption.

3. Christ's sheep hear His voice, they listen humbly to
His teaching, they take His word for their rule and guide.

4. Christ's sheep follow Him, they walk in the narrow
path He has marked out, they do not refuse because it
is sometimes steep and narrow--but wherever the line
of duty lies they go forward without doubting.