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Friday Evening Devotionals
Welcome to "Friday Devotional"—a great way to start a
weekend with God.
"I Shall Return" is a
phrase from World War II that is attributed to the late
General Douglas MacArthur. The phrase itself, coming at
the end of a brief statement to reporters shortly after
his escape from Corregidor and his arrival in Australia,
is one of the most memorable statements by an American
military leader in the last Century. Here is the full
statement:
"The President of the United States ordered
me to break through the Japanese lines and proceed from
Corregidor to Australia for the purpose, as I understand
it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan,
a primary objective of which is the relief of the
Philippines. I came through and I shall return."
Had he not returned to the Philippines, his promise
would have been forgotten. But he returned.
In May I notified my readers I was about to begin a
"sabbatical" for rehab following rotator-cuff surgery.
Many of my subscribers wrote to say they would be
praying for me. I thank each one who did. I was unable
to drive and could not use the computer for more
than two months. My personal "I shall return" message
was not as earth-shaking as the one by General
MacArthur, but I meant it just as sincerely. I'm back,
even though I do not have full use of my right arm and
shoulder yet. My medical people say it will be at least
six more months before I will regain complete use of the
shoulder.
Attached is my first "Friday Devotional" (I am changing
the name from "Friday Evening" to "Friday Devotional")
since surgery on May 28. It is entitled "Listen Up."
Continue reading below when you are ready to be
encouraged.
It has occurred to me that some of you may want to
take your own "sabbatical" from reading my weekly
missives. If this is true for you, reply to this message
with the instruction, "Unsubscribe, please." It shall be
done. But you will be missed.
Tom Barnard
A Senior Encourager
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Listen Up Tom Barnard
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want… He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake….” (Psalm 23:1, 3)
“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (John 10:14)
“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…and his sheep follow him because the sheep know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger.” (John 10:2-5)
Charles Stanley tells the story
of traveling with a church tour group to the
When one of the shepherds decided to move his flock, he spoke softly to his sheep and without hesitation they followed his voice. The other shepherd did likewise, the sheep following their shepherd. With no confusion or uncertainty about whose voice to follow, the sheep instinctively followed their own shepherd. How did this happen? The sheep recognized the voice of their shepherd, and when he spoke, they followed—with total certainty that it was the right direction to take.
Today there are voices from north, south, east, and west—urging us to buy their product, attend their function, embrace their beliefs, or support their cause. What should we do? Jesus said that he “calls his own sheep by name and leads them…and his sheep follow him because the sheep know his voice.” If dumb sheep understand this principle, why are we so slow to figure it out?
Gentle Shepherd, teach me how to listen more carefully to what you have to say to me. Help me to identify your voice above the other voices that want me to follow them. Remain close to me even in times when I am tempted to stray. Keep me from making the wrong decisions. Help me to focus on the right direction to take. Discipline me as necessary when I miss the mark. Forgive me for my tendency to go off in a new direction on my own. Teach me to study your Word so that it can be a light to my pathway. In the name of the Great Shepherd of the sheep I pray. Amen. |