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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, July 20, 2003 "Simon Says" |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, July 20, 2003 By Anne Crawford
Scripture Text: John 10:6-18
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” – John 10:14
“Simon Says” was a popular game when I was a kid. A group of us would get together and someone was designated as the leader who would yell out commands to all the other kids, prefacing each command with “Simon says...” shake your right hand…hop on one foot…scratch your head. One after the other, the commands would tumble out as we all struggled to follow the leader. But then came that one command that wasn’t preceded by “Simon says.” Inevitably, there were always one or two of us who distracted by all the commands, started to do the action, only to realize too late it wasn’t legitimate because it didn’t come identified as a “Simon says.”
I thought about this game as I looked at today’s reading. Jesus says “I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” I wonder sometimes, though if in our everyday lives, we aren’t like players in the “Simon Says” game - so intent on our activities, that we don’t stop to consider is this what Jesus wants me to do? How well do we know the good shepherd? We say we want to follow Jesus, but are we really listening for his direction? As we journey with Jesus it is important to remember how distracting the world can be. We get caught up in daily dramas and conflicts, as well as pleasures and routines. Like sheep, we have a tendency to stray off the path. That’s when we need to be mindful of the voice of our Shepherd, calling us back from distractions to do what Jesus says. Take time today to reflect on your journey – think about what you have done and plan to do and preface each with “Jesus says” – it may change your plans or reaffirm them, or it might change your attitude about what you’re doing. If we are truly going to be shepherds for The Shepherd, then knowing Jesus and having him know us can make all the difference.
Let us pray: Jesus our good shepherd, help us to remember your voice and to follow your lead. When we stray, speak to us so that we may find you, and do what “Jesus says” in our lives each day. Amen
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