[Jesus speaking]
“But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Jesus was not just “others-focused”, he was God-focused. We cannot truly be others-focused with a sinful, selfish heart. Only God can change our hearts. So, when we are God-focused, we are others focused too. Jesus made his daily plans based on who God is and how he is working around him. He was not worried about what others thought about him, nor did he spend time, energy, or talent trying to win their approval. He was singularly focused on who God the Father was drawing to him.

As we read further into this passage, we see that Jesus understood the concept of God entrusting others to his care. Similar to how a foster parent might volunteer to take children under their care, Jesus has signed up to care for you and me. We just have to look to him in life and FOLLOW HIS LEAD. He is committed to keeping us in his spiritual fold. He is the Good Shepherd! John 10:11 says, “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD. The GOOD SHEPHERD lays down his life for his sheep.” Yesterday, today, and tomorrow Jesus is laying down his life for you and me. God is actively drawing others to himself. We are his ambassadors in this world. So we get to come alongside others being drawn by God, and train them to look to Jesus rapidly and often in this sinful world. In the end, he will raise us up and we will get recognized with him in glory! So what we sacrifice today in recognition and fame, in fair treatment and justice, will pale in comparison to all that we gain today and will gain following Jesus. Let’s follow this Good Shepherd who feeds us and LIVE RICHLY in his wonderful grace!