Ok. This is not the most attractive title. It doesn’t stir up thoughts of greatness and triumph. As I type this, we are in Super Bowl weekend, for those who track the NFL. Two teams have struggled through their American football season to get to the near pinnacle of their sport in the hopes of bringing home the victory. And yet, there are many elements of this that are about following.

The players don’t get to do anything they want. In fact, no one is completely without leadership. The players on the field have someone calling the plays. The plays have been worked out before the game even started. Each player has his to try to execute his part of the play to his best ability. There will be resistance but each player must give his all and, as they say, “leave everything on the field.”

The coaches give direction to the game but they are accountable too. They have owners and managers who want to see their team succeed. The owners trust that the coach will take their skill and experience to produce a winning scenario. The coaches trust that their players will follow their lead. Owners and managers work through the coaches and players they hire. It’s only the players that get to move the ball.

If you are watching the football game on television, then you are probably the most led people. Last year’s Super Bowl advertising was charged by the television network a reported base cost of $5 to $5.6 million for a 30-second ad. That’s just the cost to put it on the air, not the addition cost to produce the ad. Why are they spending that kind of money? Because they want to lead you around like sheep.

In John 10, Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd and that we are all sheep. The prophet Isaiah also wrote that “we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Is 53:6). We are all sheep that need to be led and hopefully will listen to the voice of God. That voice comes through the Bible, prayer, God’s people, and also specifically through shepherds He has appointed. Let’s all be led into the field God desires and produce the results He intends for us. To do this, we have to admit that we are His sheep.

Journeying with you,

Pastor Merril