Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Monday after Rogate

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. John 10:1-5 (NKJV)

1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Devotion

Sin is to seek things on one’s own terms rather than abide by God’s holy will. We confess in the creeds that we believe God the Father created all things. This also means that He set things in order according to His benevolent will. However, Satan and our parents, Adam and Eve, fouled things up by transgressing His good will and righteous ordering, and things have been scattered and damaged ever since.

To this day wicked men and false teachers circumvent God’s will and Christ’s commands for the Church, and these men cause havoc. God’s lambs are gathered together by the one voice of the Good Shepherd and made into one flock. But man’s foolishness and selfishness causes them to follow strange voices that are different from God’s. They steal the blessings of peace and assurance in the clear Word of God by spreading Satan’s noise, and they disturb the flock.

This is why it is always important for us to discern and follow the voice of Christ’s sound doctrine and be guarded by it. The wisdom of His Law helps us to see how our lives should look as one of His lambs, and the glory of His Gospel shows us that He has done all to redeem us and grant us abundant life in Him according to faith and His Spirit.

We pray: Lord God, keep us steadfast in Your Word and guide us always by the voice of our Good Shepherd, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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