Knowing the Good Shepherd Above the Thief

The Bible refers to Jesus as the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep.   Who besides Jesus is interested in His sheep?  There are both human and animal thieves who want to catch and destroy sheep in the Bible.  Having a problem with understanding the sheep analogy?  

In the old west, the analogy might be cattle rustlers because they want to take the cows to increase their own herd.  Or it could be a lion or wolf coming in the night to capture the young and weak calf.  On the farm, the analogy could be the fox in the hen house waiting to devour the innocent chickens.  However you tell it, there is someone or something that does not have a legitimate claim to the flock or herd waiting to take what is not theirs.  In the spiritual realm, this thief is the devil (aka satan, lucifer).  This devil is an evil  spiritual criminal who steals through lying, cheating, bargaining, and attempting to lure the sheep astray from the Shepherd. This evil has no legitimate claim to the sheep!  The devil may make promises of power, money, or popularity to get the sheep to leave the Shepherd and abandon the righteous path.   This deceiving thief may temporarily keep an occasional promise, but it will be fleeting and quickly followed by the torture evil enjoys inflicting on others.  The devil only cares for destroying lives and increasing the number of people taken into hell.  

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: 

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." 

- John 10:10-11 (KJV)

However, the faithful sheep only follow the Good Shepherd and they only listen to His voice.  They do not follow the evil deceiver and they do not seek after his false treats.  Instead they keep their eyes on Jesus and listen intently for His voice.  Christians are the sheep who follow Jesus.  The mature Christian recognizes the voice of Jesus and closes his ears to evil.  The new Christian needs to study and learn so that they too know which voice to listen to.  Christians know Jesus Christ died for their salvation.  These sheep know their Shepherd and they know only He really cares for them and gives to them the best blessings.  Are you listening to the Good Shepherd?  Do you thank Him daily for His sacrifice,  your salvation, and your eternal heavenly home?  Listen well for the the true voice of your Good Shepherd.