1-22-2022

 Good Morning All,

          John 10:3; “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” 

   Working with animals is an interesting adventure. To watch it, many think it is easy but that might be very deceptive. The person who takes care of the cattle or sheep can walk through the pen or lot and not a critter will wiggle. But let an unknown person in and the begin to get nervous and “flighty,” they may even begin to run. They do not know or trust this “new creature.”

    It is amazing how that works in animals. I have a good neighbor friend who has a fair number of cows. They are nervous around everyone else but not with him. He can walk through the middle of the herd and the cows will barely move. A preacher friend asked him why this was. He told the preacher,” I guess it is because I smell like them.”  We have a Savior who knows what we smell like.

    We have a Savior who knows us inside and out, who knows our weaknesses and our failings. Yet, like the gentle shepherd that he is, he calmly calls to us; he calls us by name. He calls us out of our wretched sinfulness and our hopeless condition. He calls us by name into his loving kingdom. He calls us by his Word, and it is this Word by which we know him. He speaks to us through his Word which is living and active. He speaks to us through his holy meal of the body and the blood. God speaks to us through Jesus the one who knows you the one who calls you by name.

     It does not matter how beaten down we are. It does not matter if the world looks at you as worthless or not worth the effort; God does. God sees you as his own precious child and desires for you to return to his family to return to his flock. So, he calls you; he calls you by name. By faith, we hear that voice, and we know it; we know the voice of our dear Savior.

     When we hear that voice, it is the voice of comfort it is the voice of peace it is the voice of hope. God speaks to us with the gentle love of the Father in heaven. He speaks to us when times are good, and he speaks to us when times are bad. He speaks to us with words of joy and jubilation. He speaks to us with comfort and consolation. He speaks to us to give us strength and to give us hope.

    So, listen, listen closely. Listen by reading his written word. Listen by hearing his spoken word. Listen by eating and drinking his sacramental word. Listen, knowing that in whatever form we find it; it gives us the words of forgiveness of sins; it gives to us the words of salvation.

Precious Savior, you call us by name and give to us our security. You give us your words of comfort. Keep us safely in your arms and protect us from all danger. Be with those who are suffering and nudge those who do not hear their name as you call. In your most holy and precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret