The Claims of Christ

07/08/22 – 07/16/22

Listen for His Voice

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/16/22

In the Middle East, the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is special. Sheep know their shepherd’s voice, and they follow him when he calls. If a stranger comes along, the sheep shrink back.

It is no surprise that during World War I, when a group of Turkish soldiers decided to steal a flock of sheep from a hillside near Jerusalem, they had to face the fact that the shepherd was the only one who could control the sheep. But even he knew he could not recapture his flock single-handed against all those soldiers.

He did the only thing he could; he put his hand to his mouth and gave his own particular call that he used each day to gather his sheep. When the sheep heard the familiar sound, they stopped, turned, and came back to their shepherd.

The same is true with us—the body of Christ. Those who are children of God will hear His voice through His Word. Jesus says in John 10:27-28, “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.”

You know you are one of His sheep when you respond to His voice and His Word. Do you recognize the voice of Jesus? He knows you better than you know yourself.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for you. He longs for you to draw closer to Him. Can you hear His voice? Do you know His special call to you? Be still, listen, and pray, and you will be blessed by the Savior’s intimate care.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the Good Shepherd. Train my ear to recognize Your voice and my heart to respond to Your call. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).