LISTEN UP

 My sheep hear my voice, and

I know them, and they

follow Me.

John 10:27

In today's world, we are bombarded with voices of various types.  One of the main ways we recognize folks is by their voices.  We talk on our phones to friends and families, knowing those folks by their voices.  Science is telling us that soon, anyone's voice will be able to be copied so that even close relatives won't recognize a phony voice.   Aside from voices in general, I have been disturbed how voices are used.  On television, news reports, medication ads, etc. are voiced with or without pictures that are meant to cause the general public to be frightened if they don't adhere to such productions.

Recently, I've been reading John 10 where most of the chapter is given to Jesus speaking of Himself as our shepherd.  He knows the nature of sheep, the animal.  They are for the most part pretty dumb.  They will gnaw on grass even if it takes them to the edge of a cliff.  They rarely know when to rest and picky about what water source they drink from.  However, they are very intelligent when it comes to knowing they have a shepherd enough to know that shepherd's voice.  It's almost to the point that if their shepherd even clears his voice, the sheep may at least raise their heads.  When he speaks, one sees immediate, attentive obedience on the part of the entire flock.

Jesus sees us as direly needing leadership in our lives.  He knows all about sheep...He was a sacrificial lamb following in obedience to His Father.  He clearly heard His Father's voice and followed without hesitation.  Jesus is now our Shepherd and speaks in this chapter referring to the human voice and need for His sheep to not only hear His voice, but to do His bidding. T

Voices are calling out to us from every place we can think of to turn our attention away from our Shepherd.  To follow Him, however, we first must know His voice or we'll follow others we shouldn't.  Without the relationship, there's no communication. When we know the bidding of Jesus on our lives, we make a choice...being loved and provided for, or worse, falling off a cliff the world calls us to.  

Thank You Jesus for being my Shepherd.  I need Your care and leadership in my life.  Help me to not stray from you and to faithfully hear and obey your voice.  In Jesus' name...Amen