A Collect to Recognize Thieves

Loving shepherd, who knows each of your sheep by name, grant us wisdom and sight to recognize those who have entered our lives but are not of you, that we would not be taken advantage of or harmed, but would look to the one who truly cares for us and seeks our good, through Jesus Christ, who demonstrated for us your love and the love of the Holy Spirit. Amen. ‘ Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.’ – John 10:1