Devotional: Know Jesus’ Voice John 10:1-5, 16, 27

This past week I am watching an episode of the ESPN sports show “First Take” hosted by Molly Qerim Rose. ErvIn “Magic” Johnson is a special guest. He comes to explain the reasons that he resigned from his position as President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the conversation Magic talks about several people that are giving advice to Jeanie Buss the owner of the Lakers. Molly Qerim states that it sounds like Jeanie is listening to too many voices.

In John 10 Jesus is being challenged by the religious leaders. Jesus states that there are many voices that the sheep hear. However, the good shepherd knows his sheep. He calls them by their name. They hear him and follow him because they know him and he knows them. In this situation there are several shepherds that come for their own sheep. Jesus is making the claim that the religious leaders are not the shepherds of God’s sheep, His people.

Jesus is the good shepherd. The religious leaders are like hired hand. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (v. 11) while the hired hand flees when he sees the wolf coming leaving the sheep to be killed by the wolf (v. 12).

There are many voices in the church and in our personal lives also. These are voices that speak not for what is right. These voices do not bring us closer to the Lord. These voices do not really have our best interest at heart. Sometimes the aim of these voices is to keep us from reaching our destiny; the life that the Lord is calling us to. These voices are like that of the serpent that talks with the woman in the garden (Gen. 3:1-6). His voice is enticing. His voice is eloquent. His words speak to our vanity instead of speaking the truth that will help us to live out our best life.

The woman hears the voice of the serpent. The man hears the voice of the woman. Neither of them follows the words of the Lord. The Lord’s words are for our good. The words of the other voices lead us away from the Lord. The man and the woman learn that listening to other voices keeps them from the Lord who has plans for their good.

Prayer: Lord I thank you for Your words that give us life. I want to know You and I want to know Your voice. I reject the other voices that speak to me. Amen.