WHO DO YOU KNOW AND WHO KNOWS YOU?

SCRIPTURE:
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” 
(John 10:14)

MEDITATION:
As we journey through our life we will cross paths 
with some people who are considered good, but others who are considered bad.
Most people choose to avoid the bad people and gravitate toward the good ones.
Why is that?
More than likely it is because 
we know that we are influenced by those we associate with the most.
We can be influenced by either the bad or the good; 
it depends on how much time we spend with each one.

We have heard that one bad apple can spoil the bushel.
Take a basket of good apples and place a rotten one with them.
After a while, the good apples will become rotten as well.
Now take a basket of rotten apples and place a good one with them.
The rotten apples don’t become good do they?
It’s the same way in life – good seldom influences the bad, 
but the bad often influences the good.
This is why we should spend most of our time with those who are good.

Our spiritual life has the same challenge.
However, Jesus has assured us that He is the “good” shepherd.
That means we should spend a lot of time with Him.
When we do, we get to know Him and He can influence our lives in a good way.

Unless the Lord is revealed to us through a personal experience, 
we never really know Him.
Most of us know about Him, but that is quite different than knowing the Lord.
We can learn more about Him through bible study, 
church worship and many other activities offered by the church.
Unfortunately, many people stop at this point in their quest to know the Lord.
They get introduced to Him, but fail to get to know Him personally.

Even more unfortunately, many who have spent time at the church in their 
efforts to know Him better, suddenly stop attending any church activities.
Do they feel they know Him as well as they should? If so, they are wrong.
Have they gotten bored and lost interest? If so, then what happened?
Have they allowed the things of the world 
to replace their efforts to know Him better?
Whatever the reasons, there has been a major drop in church attendance and sadly 
the ones dropping out are those who claimed to have given their lives to the Lord.

ACTION:
How well do you know the Lord?
Are you striving to know Him better every day?
How does your church attendance today 
compare with when you first gave your life to the Lord?

Are you in the group that has replaced spending time with Him 
and other believers, with other things of the world?
If you spend less time in God’s house today than you did when you were saved, 
what are you going to do about it?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You are the Good Shepherd that I sought when I was 
lost and doomed to total condemnation. However, as the Good Shepherd, 
You pierced my heart and showed me that I did not have to remain in my 
condition. You taught me about how You made the ultimate sacrifice for 
me out of love. Your sacrifice paved the way for me to avoid an eternal 
death and separation from You. Forgive me if I have allowed other things 
to replace the time I should be spending with You. Convict me of the times 
I have neglected You and renew my enthusiasm to spend more time with 
You now than when You first saved me. My desire is to know You better 
and I know it will not happen if I fail to spend time more with You. 
Thank You for loving me, and help me to love You better than I do the 
things of the world.”