John 10:27 - Hearing the Voice of God.
John 10:27 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me:
INTRODUCTION
In this grand statement, Jesus summarized
the blessings of those who truly listen to and
believe the gospel. The believer in Jesus knows him
personally, has eternal life, will not perish, and is
secure in his care. But many of those who heard had
no intention of truly listening. It is also
true that those refusing to listen to Jesus'
voice are not his sheep. We recognize Christ's
voice when he speaks to us through the Bible. Are
we truly listening for it? (Life Application
Commentary)
COMMENTARY PEARL
Recognize His Voice
I have never heard the voice of the Lord
audibly, but the Lord has spoken to me many times
throughout my life. You might ask, "How can someone
recognize His voice?" To recognize the voice of the
Lord, we must belong to Him.
Ruth never had to identify herself when
she called me on my many trips around the world.
When I picked up the phone and heard her speak, I
knew the voice of my wife. That was years before
mobile phones and caller ID. I never had to ask my
children to identify themselves by name when they
phoned. We recognize the voices of those who are
dear to us and those with whom we commune.
Likewise, if we are communicating with
the Lord Jesus through prayer and meditating on
His Word, our spirits will identify with His
voice. The Lord would not expect us to hear His
voice if He did not make it possible. "I will give
them hearts that recognize me as the LORD"
(Jeremiah 24:7 NLT); and "Obey My voice, and I will be
your God" (Jeremiah 7:23).
How does obedience help you hear the
Lord's voice more clearly? [Peace for Each Day by
Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
I visited my daughter's family for a few
weeks while they awaited the birth of their fourth
child. Their three other children and I arrived at
the hospital about an hour after Leona was born.
I snapped photos while the family took turns
holding the new baby girl, amazed at how alert and
content she seemed - considering what she had just
gone through. She'd left her cozy environment for
an open space filled with bright lights,
noises, and all sorts of strange sensations on her
skin. Yet, each time Leona was passed around, she
usually seemed calm, quietly moving her arms
around.
Finally, my anxious arms got to hold the
baby. Both then and over the next couple of days,
I noticed a difference when I talked to her:
She didn't recognize my voice. She didn't
necessarily cry, but she didn't appear to feel as calm
and settled. Although Leona couldn't focus her
eyes to see faces dearly at first, she knew when
a family member held her because she had been
hearing their voices for months. And that familiar
voice made her feel safe.
Jesus said that His followers hear and
recognize His voice. Since we live in a world full of
noise and distraction, it's not always easy to
hear our Shepherd's voice speaking to us. If
we're not thoroughly familiar with His voice, we
may confuse it with others that try to lead us
astray. It's crucial to stay attuned to Jesus's
voice by spending time in prayer, Bible reading,
and active listening for His guidance. Then,
even if we can't clearly see His presence in our
situation, we will remember that we are safe in His
arms. Dianne Neal Matthews
Faith Step: Take time today to listen to
Jesus's voice. Thank Him for holding you in His
loving arms. [Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional
by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 10:27: The Voice of God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190917-1038.html
Psalm 46:10 - Being Still to Know God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220525-0928.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/