Knowing His Voice
Passage to be read: John 10: 1 - 6
He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.
When He brings all His sheep out, He goes ahead of them,
and they follow Him because they know His voice.
(John 10: 04)
The picture of seeing our God as our own shepherd and we being His sheep is something that we always do. It is not just a result of someone's spark of imagination, but a truth that was told by Christ Jesus himself; "I am the good shepherd" (John 10: 11). And, many a time, we have seen the picture of Jesus as shepherd, with His flock of sheep around Him, tending the youngest. And let me lead you into a paradigm that we also need to look at the same as a responsibility of ourselves.
It is very interesting to see that the verse that we have taken for our meditation (John 10: 04), has the word "out" twice in it, and I believe that the New Century Version of the Bible has it purposefully. The sheep that are kept in the paddocks or yards are taken 'out.' And, it is in this backdrop that Jesus teaches us an important lesson. Jesus is telling us something about what happens between the shepherd and the sheep when they are taken out of their own yards; their comfort zone!
In our spiritual lives there are comfort zones; the church, the prayer group, the youth fellowship, our own family, friends with the same faith of yours. And Christ Jesus is telling something that happens and should happen when He takes you out of your "spiritual comfort zones." Isn't that interesting? It could be a secular gathering, a new place that you have never been to, a teenage adventure that you are upto or even a young person's experimentation on something that you have never done. The road is new, the destination is unknown and the only option you have is to trust and follow the shepherd who is leading you. This is where I want touch upon the responsibility you have as a believer of Christ Jesus; as His obedient sheep.
Jesus said, the shepherd "He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out" (John 10: 04). Yes! He knows you in person. He knows your background. He alone knows your beginning and ending, and every single thing that is there in the farthest domes of your thoughts. He knows you by your name. He knows His every sheep by its name! But, there is something more. Jesus continues to say, the shepherd, "When He brings all His sheep out, He goes ahead of them and they follow Him" (John 10: 04). Wow! How amazing is that? Knowing that you are clueless of where you are heading towards, He goes ahead of you. And that is so unique of the love and care God has on you. He tends His sheep, knowing each of them by name.
Now comes the responsibility! John 10:04 does not end silently; it ends with a great call. "He goes ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice" (John 10: 04). Yes, indeed, that's a huge 'Because!' Christ Jesus call you for this intimate relationship with Him. Just as he knows you by name, He wants you to know Him by His voice! Only then, you will be able to follow Him. Now, after realizing this huge 'Because' at the end of the verse, it makes sense why the word 'Out' was stressed to that level; twice in the same verse.
When we are taken outside into the world, out of our spiritual comfort zones, there many voices heard in and around our self. So many calls from various directions. Various demands from numerous people. And multiple suggestions from hundreds of people. Which one are you going to listen to? Don't you think it is very easy to fall for temptations and to respond to any of these voices that could lead you away from God's greater plan? And, in such moments, do you know your shepherd's voice? Have you ever felt His presence in you? Did you ever learn to wait upon His presence and to know His character? Have you ever heard Him lead you before? In moments like these, it matters and it matters always! Only if you know the voice of the shepherd out of your personal and intimate relationship with Him, you would know to recognize it and only then you could follow Him.
God calls you today to come to Him through Christ Jesus and you would be able walk on the right path that Jesus shows you, only if you had learned to respond to His call; only if you know His Voice!
I pray that God will help all of us to grow in Him and to become strengthened in the relationship we have with Him and as a result of it we would know His Voice. Only the sheep that knows His voice would walk in the right path; the path that Christ Jesus is leading us through. And surely this path will lead us through the greater plans God has for us and will bring us back home safe and sound, into eternity.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
