MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
1 John 2:3 (ESV)
CULTURE PROOF: KNOWING GOD
A shepherd was looking after his sheep one day on the side of a deserted road, when suddenly a brand new Porsche screeched to a halt. The driver, a man dressed in an Armani suit, Timberland shoes, Versace designer sunglasses, A Rolex watch, and a Pierre Cardin tie, gets out and asks the shepherd, “If I can tell you how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?” The shepherd looks at the young man and replies, “Okay.”
The young man parks the car, connects his laptop to his mobile, scans the ground using his Global Positioning System receiver, opens a database with 60 Excel tables filled with logarithms and pivot tables, and then prints out a 150-page report on his high-tech mini-printer. He turns to the shepherd and says, “You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.”
Rather surprised the shepherd replies, “That’s correct, you can have your sheep.” The young man takes an animal and puts it in the back of his Porsche. Just as the man is about to drive off, the shepherd asks him, “If I guess your profession, will you return my animal to me?” The young man answers, “Yes, why not?” The shepherd says, “You are an IT consultant.” “How did you know?” asks the young man. “Very simple,” answers the shepherd. “Firstly, you came here without being called. Secondly, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew, and Thirdly, you don’t understand anything about my business. Now please can I have my DOG back?”
Reflection
Mike reminded us on Sunday that Jesus doesn’t want a consulting role in our lives. Jesus wants us to know Him in a real and personal way. He wants us to experience His presence daily. The book of 1 John is designed to help us tell if we really know Jesus. Jesus taught in John 17:3, “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent —Jesus Christ.” Do you think Jesus has only played a consulting role in your life or do you have eternal life because you know Him? Ask God to be more than a consultant to you.
