Week 2 - Listen & Learn | Day 11

SCRIPTURE - JOHN 10:1-5

Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, 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. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

OBSERVATION

In this passage, Jesus uses the picture of a shepherd and his sheep to show that every sheep follows a voice, but not every voice can be trusted. Thieves, robbers, and strangers may call out to the sheep, but the only voice they respond to is that of their shepherd. By following the shepherd’s voice, the sheep enter through the gate where they find safety, protection, and pasture. 

Jesus says that He is both the gate and the good shepherd. That means He is the one who protects us and the one who leads us into a full life. He guards us, He provides for us, and He guides us. Just like the sheep, we are surrounded by many voices competing for our attention. But only one voice has our good in mind. Only one voice leads to life. Only one voice belongs to the One who laid down His life for His sheep. Jesus’ voice is the only one worth following. But we can only follow His voice if we learn to recognize it. We need to be able to discern His voice from every other one that calls out to us. When we listen to Him above all else, we will know which voice to follow when the enemy comes to steal, kill, or destroy.

APPLICATION

Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd because they have spent time close to him. In the same way, the only way we learn to recognize Jesus’ voice is by spending time with Him. Jesus wants to be near to us. He wants us to talk with Him, to know Him more, and to listen when He speaks. He invites us into His presence so that His voice becomes familiar to us. 

What voices have you been listening to lately? Have fear, comparison, or the opinions of others taken a louder place in your life than Christ? When any voice outside of Jesus becomes the one we listen to, we drift from the life He wants to give us. But when we learn to recognize His voice above all others, He leads us into life to the full.

PRAYER

Today, take time to listen for what God may be speaking to you. Pray that He would help you build a habit of spending time with Him so that His voice becomes familiar to you. Ask Him to help you listen to His voice above every other one in your life. 

God, thank you that you are a good Shepherd who protects me and leads me. Thank you for laying down your life so I could be in relationship with you. Help me recognize your voice so I can follow you wherever you lead. Amen. 

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