Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
November 9, 2021
Read John 10:25-29
25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life. They will never die, and no one will snatch them from my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them from my Father’s hand.
Good Morning! Give Thanks to God!
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, will care for us always. I find the imagery of the sheep and the shepherd comforting because I believe that I am protected against all adversity. When I take time to listen, I hear the still, clear voice of my Savior calling me to follow. Sheep follow the one who protects them, leads them to green pastures, finds them when they are lost, and calls them by name. Sheep trust their shepherd and go where they are called.
Jesus is our shepherd and cares for us this way. It is easy to trust and follow when the way seems clear, but we are sometimes challenged when we can’t see what is ahead of us or when the way ahead seems rocky. To follow Jesus means that we are ready to follow wherever we are called: to trust and believe in our Lord.
Are you ready to follow when the Lord calls you to leave your place of safety and venture out into the unknown? How you answer this question is different for each of us because we do not know how and when we will be challenged. For me, when I was called to share the word as a pastor, I was unsure of where following that call would take me.
Moving from the safety of loving friends and accepting my call was very difficult, but I said Yes and chose to take this great leap of faith. Through this process, I have been and continue to be blessed each day. Of course, there are still daily challenges, but I trust God and believe that I will never be alone.
God calls each of us in different ways. Open your heart, soul, and mind to the possibilities of serving your Lord. You will be blessed!
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Help us learn to trust you when you call us to serve in Your name. May we never forget to open ourselves fully to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I can always trust the voice of my Shepherd.
Follow the Great Shepherd! Pastor Liz
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