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The young man stepped to the microphone and began to recite the 23rd Psalm. His rich baritone voice resonated throughout the pavilion. His timing was flawless. His voice inflections were perfect. When he finished that county fair crowd burst into thunderous applause, whistling and stomping their feet.
As the applause slowly faded, an old man shuffled toward the microphone and began speaking in a voice raspy with age. When he finished, there was no thunderous applause, just a kind of holy hush. Ladies were dabbing at their eyes. Men were reaching into the pockets of their overalls, pulling out red bandana handkerchiefs and nosily blowing their noses.
The difference—the young man knew the psalm. The old man knew the shepherd.
Do you know the shepherd?
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me.”
— John 10:14 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, I want You to be my shepherd. I want you to know me inside and out. And I want to know You. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.