John 10: 2-5,
"2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Everyone has a unique voice. A question to think about is what type of "voice" do you have. Do you have a "voice" that conveys:
=power
=security
=purpose
=fear
=hate
=anger
= etc.
The sheep learn to know and recognize the voice of their shepherd. This is done like a child who learns to recognize their parents. A child learns the sound of their parents as they verbally and physically share themselves with the child (born or growing in the womb). A sheep learns to recognize the shepherd as the shepherd shares his life serving and taking care of their needs. Jesus, as our shepherd, shared His life with us to the point of death. Matthew 20:28 reminds us that Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. Hebrews 4:14-16 states that Jesus, as High Priest, went through temptation as we do now. Because of this fact He is able to sympathize with us, and understand the weight of that temptation. Philippians 2 teaches us and reiterates that Christ limited Himself to take on the role of a servant to the point of death. In this limitation, Christ could be like us, as well as sacrificed for us This limitation allows us to know God on a personal level. God made it personal because He is love (1 John 4:8). It is personal because we are made in His image (Gen. 1:26). By sending His Son and our Shepherd, God made it clear that there is nothing He will not do to reconcile with us. Reconciliation with humanity means so much that he sent Jesus to be sacrificed so we may have eternal life (John 3:16).
The voice of our shepherd is one that is filled with love, compassion, sacrifice, courage, purpose, understanding, security, and provision. We can recognize His voice because His voice speaks with understanding and experience. His voice stands out because with its sound comes forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice, peace, joy, and hope. The voice of Jesus gives life and does not take it.
God is always communicating with us. Do you hear the bold and subtle words of Christ? Do recognize His voice? Do you know and believe that God is always reaching out to you? Unlike other religions, Christianity claims a two way form of communication. We speak, as does God. Other religions do not speak of communication like this. Other religions are not founded on relationship. In those cases, only one voice is heard by others, and that voice is their own. For Christ followers, God is always at work attempting to foster and develop a relationship with you.
To hear God you must not be selective. You must repent. Repentance will soften your heart and open your eyes and ear.
"2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
Everyone has a unique voice. A question to think about is what type of "voice" do you have. Do you have a "voice" that conveys:
=power
=security
=purpose
=fear
=hate
=anger
= etc.
The sheep learn to know and recognize the voice of their shepherd. This is done like a child who learns to recognize their parents. A child learns the sound of their parents as they verbally and physically share themselves with the child (born or growing in the womb). A sheep learns to recognize the shepherd as the shepherd shares his life serving and taking care of their needs. Jesus, as our shepherd, shared His life with us to the point of death. Matthew 20:28 reminds us that Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. Hebrews 4:14-16 states that Jesus, as High Priest, went through temptation as we do now. Because of this fact He is able to sympathize with us, and understand the weight of that temptation. Philippians 2 teaches us and reiterates that Christ limited Himself to take on the role of a servant to the point of death. In this limitation, Christ could be like us, as well as sacrificed for us This limitation allows us to know God on a personal level. God made it personal because He is love (1 John 4:8). It is personal because we are made in His image (Gen. 1:26). By sending His Son and our Shepherd, God made it clear that there is nothing He will not do to reconcile with us. Reconciliation with humanity means so much that he sent Jesus to be sacrificed so we may have eternal life (John 3:16).
The voice of our shepherd is one that is filled with love, compassion, sacrifice, courage, purpose, understanding, security, and provision. We can recognize His voice because His voice speaks with understanding and experience. His voice stands out because with its sound comes forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice, peace, joy, and hope. The voice of Jesus gives life and does not take it.
God is always communicating with us. Do you hear the bold and subtle words of Christ? Do recognize His voice? Do you know and believe that God is always reaching out to you? Unlike other religions, Christianity claims a two way form of communication. We speak, as does God. Other religions do not speak of communication like this. Other religions are not founded on relationship. In those cases, only one voice is heard by others, and that voice is their own. For Christ followers, God is always at work attempting to foster and develop a relationship with you.
To hear God you must not be selective. You must repent. Repentance will soften your heart and open your eyes and ear.
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