The Good Shepherd's Voice

This past week, Kevin and I studied John 10.  He prepared a sermon for church, I prepared a short devotional for devotions at the office.  Here's my take on it:


John 10:3-4
The watchman opens the gate for [the shepherd],
and the sheep listen to his voice.
He calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out.
When he has brought out all his own,
he goes on ahead of them,
and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice.

The Shepherd/Jesus: Comes, Calls, Leads
We: Listen, Follow, Know (Him/His voice)

Shepherds in the Bible just spoke and the sheep followed. They didn't poke and push from behind like we saw shepherds in the fields doing as we drove up to Georgia! :) Maybe that's part of the reason that David sang to his sheep...? So they'd know his voice.

1 Samuel 3:10
Then Samuel said, Speak for your servant is LISTENING.

He had heard God call (asked Eli for advice...) and then he had to respond by listening to what He said.

Isaiah 50:4b-5
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to LISTEN like one being taught.
The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears,
and I have not been rebellious;
I have not drawn back.

By not applying what we've heard, or listening to what He's said, we are rebelling!

For example, if Kev and I have a conflict, or you do with your family or friends... the Holy Spirit (our reminder John 14:26) may remind you of the verse, "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." from the book of James. (Maybe you "happened" to read it that morning?) Do you listen to that reminder, or do you draw back from it and rebel? It's not always an easy thing He reminds us to do... 'cause he's not just all about easy, but about good and right...

Psalm 95:6-7
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah in the desert,

Meribah means quarrling
Massah means testing

-Could quarreling and testing could be a sign of a hard heart?

He Calls Us by Name (cool!) -John 10:3
-examples: Samuel, Moses and the burning bush, Martha working hard..., Lazurus come out!, Zacchaeus in the tree, Mary at the tomb, Saul - why are you persecuting me?
US, too! He knows our name and what it is we need to hear...

His Voice is Thunders, is powerful, and majestic, but still can be a quiet whisper, as with Elijah...

Enemy: Temptation/Garden of Eden
-Took God's Word and twisted it
-Father of lies... creates doubt concerning what God said
-makes you think he's thinking about you... makes you think all about you... (you're hungry - Jesus... you'll be wise - Eve...)
-He doesn't care for you... wants to get back at God (ex. Job)

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(Abundant Life!) Blessed with all His good gifts for us!

He: Comes, Calls, and Leads
We: Listen, Follow, Know

Col. 3:16
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...

Psalm 119
...I have hidden Your word in my heart...

Jer. 33:3
Call unto me and I will answer you.

If we want to know His voice, we need to put our self in a position to hear Him.  Hide His word in your heart!  Be quiet! He wants us to hear his voice. Everyday he has something new to say to us... To encourage, challenge, teach (to teach us or for us to use teach someone else!). To humble us, or guide us. To give wisdom or direction... To prepare us for something we're about to face! To encourage us to pray for someone else who needs our prayers... On and on...  For us, lately, it been a lot about - just know Me!  Know that I am God.

Challenge: This week, ask the Lord to give you a verse each morning (or whenever you have your time with the Lord), and write it down on a piece of paper. Put it where you'll see it during the day... watch to see how God will speak to you when you are listening! :)


Let's remain in Him and let His words remain in us!  (John 15:7)  I want to open my ear to listen like one being taught!