“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.” (John 10:2-4)

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, His first call to us is “come follow me.” This is His direction to us as we mature in our faith and develop as a disciple of Jesus Christ. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25) Our Christian life is learning how to follow Jesus.

As we learn to follow, we must become acquainted with His voice so that we may hear His directions for our lives. He illustrates this relationship with a familiar image known to the people, that of a shepherd with his sheep. Jesus said, “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.” (John 10:14-15) Jesus, our good shepherd, had come to us at the direction of His Heavenly Father. He lived His life as one who was obeying His Father’s directions as He was sent to bring to us our salvation. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17) Jesus knew His Father’s voice and lives as a man in perfect relationship with His Father.

The call for us as disciples of Jesus is to know His voice. We must learn to recognize His voice. Just as the sheep would recognize the shepherd’s 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.” (John 10:3b-4) They would recognize the shepherd’s voice because he would lead them to food and water, all the while also protecting them. We learn that Jesus is our nourishment and refreshment for our lives, along with our protection which will carry us to eternity with Him.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

We learn to listen to our Sheherd’s voice by spending time with Him. Time learning His voice through His Written Word, the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Time learning His voice from His presence in our lives through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15)

When we learn the voice of our good shepherd, then we learn to listen to Him and not the many voices in the world which are seeking to lead us from the life He gives. When we hear His voice, we follow Him now and we have a future of fellowship with Him. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:20-22)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block