John 10:1-10 (NRSV)
Read John 10:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 10"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. Verse 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. Verse 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Verse 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. Verse 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Verse 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. Verse 7So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. Verse 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. Verse 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. Verse 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Devotion
Perhaps not since the early centuries of Christianity have ordinary Christians been pulled in so many directions as it seems we are today. We are pulled around by competing religious, social, political, and ideological "shepherds." They offer to "change our lives," and put us on the road to happiness, success, self-fulfillment, moral and spiritual enlightenment, and the salvation of our way of life. More often than not we are losers in this endeavor. As an antidote to all of this, our lessons for this week offer us an image of our God as shepherd: the one who guides us, not out of this world, but in and through it with staff and overflowing cup, with word and holy supper. Jesus said, "The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out...He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice."
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your loving call that finds us, even when we may be looking in different directions and hearing different voices. Amen