John 10:11-16
10:12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
10:13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.
10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
10:16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 10:27-29
10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
10:29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. NRSV
The Lord says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
- Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
As she prayed for me, my friend said to God, “Let Nancy know she’s your favorite daughter.” God doesn’t have favorites! I thought. I knew God couldn’t answer a prayer like that. Later that day, I came across photos of my dear friend Doreen, who had died of bone cancer years earlier. I remembered her memorial service. As friends and family told stories about her, several women described themselves as Doreen’s closest friend. They’re mistaken, I thought. After all, I was her best friend. Doreen had so lavishly, unselfishly loved us all that each of us thought we were her favorite.
She lived so well Jesus’ commandment to love that I’d felt completely, unconditionally loved. The Lord interrupted my memories, speaking gently in my heart, “That’s like my love.” I told God that I didn’t understand. God said to me, “You don’t have to understand. Only believe.” And I do believe.
Still, I wondered how God could love me. I am certainly no saint. Then I remembered the stories of David — a liar, an adulterer, and a murderer and yet was “a man after [God’s] own heart” (Acts 13:22). To my surprise, I realized that I am God’s favorite. Each one of us is.
Prayer Dear God, thank you for your loving-kindness that draws us to you. Amen.
Prayer focus To trust God’s love to pull us through
