On Hearing His Voice

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/QT4lu)

“And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them—and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

John 10:4

It is both distinctive and Divine—and only those who know Him readily recognize it.

His Voice.

Wouldn’t you have loved to live in Jesus’ day and to follow Him around like the early disciples did?  Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to see Him heal a blind man. . .make a deaf man hear and a lame man walk. . .and to witness His feeding of the 5,000 with just five loaves and fishes that day (Jn. 6:1-14)?

Yes, it would have been wonderful.

Yet, today’s Manna reminds us that even more wonderful would have been “hearing His Voice.”  Think of it:  In a day where there were no megaphones or p.a. systems He still was able to preach His Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7) and speak to the hungering thousands on the mountainside.

Likewise, even now we can only imagine how He sounded that night in the howling storm when He calmed the winds and the waves by saying “Peace!  Be still!” (Mk. 4:39).  And, how piercing it would have been to eavesdrop on His quiet conversation with Peter in the upper room when He predicted his three denials and three days later re-commissioned him for service (Lk. 22:31-34; Jn. 21:15-17).

But, alas, we cannot.

Even so, it doesn’t matter, does it, Pilgrim?

No, not at all when He’s our Good Shepherd and we’re the “sheep of His Pasture” (Ps. 100:3).  Hallelujah!!

Truly, when Christ, the “seeking Shepherd” (Lk. 15:1-7; 19:10) finds us—stinking, straying, stupid sheep—and ushers us into His “fold” (His arms), we immediately realize His Voice is unlike any we’ve ever heard before.  And, like the Voice Adam and Eve heard “walking in the Garden in the cool of the day” (Gen. 3:8), so does Christ’s “still, small Voice” (I Kings 19:12) waft its way to us in the stillness of the night or hectic fury of the day, reassuring us that all is well because He is near (Phil. 4:4-5).  Glory!!

Oh, dear Pilgrim, have you heard His Voice?  Do you hear it even now as you read these words?  Again, His Voice is unlike any we’ve ever heard.  And, like the old Gospel song says, “Oh how welcome Thy Voice.”

Why not spend some time right now closing your eyes, “capturing your thoughts” (II Cor. 10:5) and “being still and knowing He is God” (Ps. 46:10)?  Allow His Holy Spirit to calm your heart and mind as you hear Him whispering sweet Peace to you.  Do not be surprised during this time if you feel Him “brush up against you” as He gathers you into His loving Arms.  Yes, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word.  Just to rest upon His Promise.  Just to know thus saith the Lord.”  Thank You, Lord.

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated June 15, 2010