Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for explaining so much to us and yet reminding us that much is simply because God commands so. Amen
Reading: John 10: 11-18 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" The common question of young children over and over and over again. Andy and I once thought the better thing to say was, "Please explain!" but then we were actually committed to giving a good reason and, frankly, sometimes "Because I said so." is the only answer. The beginning of 10th chapter of the Gospel of John is The Shepherd and His Flock, a lovely long teaching by Jesus in which he figuratively explains his being the Good Shepherd. It is an understandable comparison of who Christ is and comforting message of whose we are. However, toward the end, as Jesus speaks of laying down his life and taking it up again, the head-scratching could begin followed by "Why?" or "Please explain!" . Jesus simply puts the bottom line, final answer right out there: "This command I received from my Father." "Why?" "Please explain!" In matters of being shepherds and sheep - who God is and whose we are - we simply need to know, "Because God said so." --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper
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