KNOW HIS VOICE

KNOW HIS VOICE

Bible:John 10:1-15

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (V.14).

Reading

Does your church run holiday Bible clubs during the summer holidays? They’re normally a week of Bible stories, games and activities for younger kids. My church did one once where they decided to bring in a sheep from a local farm. They thought it would be something a bit different for the kids—and it would help them remember the theme of the week: Jesus as our good Shepherd (SEE PSALM 23; JOHN 10:11). On the first day the Bible club leader had to practically drag the sheep by a rope into the church hall. But as the week went on, it became less reluctant to follow him. By the end of the week, he didn’t have to hold the rope anymore; he just called the sheep and it followed, knowing it could trust him. In the New Testament, Jesus compares Himself to a shepherd, explaining that His people—His sheep—will follow Him because they know His voice (JOHN 10:4). But those same sheep will run from a stranger or thief (VV.5,10). Like sheep, we get to know the voice of our Shepherd through our relationship with Him. And as we do, we will get to know Him better and learn to trust Him. As we get to know God through the Bible, we will get to know His ways, priorities, mission, love, promises and plans (so, His voice). And as we listen to His voice, we’ll be prepared to run from the “the thief [who] comes only to steal and destroy” (V.10)—so, anything that tries to distract us from God. There are a lot of ‘voices’ in the world. We need to be making time to listen to the voice of our Shepherd who will always lead us well.

THE Lord IS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING. PSALM 23:1

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