Do you hear His voice?

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." John 10:26-30 (cf. John 10:1-39)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life for the sheep when He suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world and rose again in victory (v. 11,17-18). But not all believe on Him as their Savior. Many do not hear His voice calling them to repent and look to Him for pardon, forgiveness and life eternal. They do not hear and recognize His voice and follow Him as do His sheep (v. 3-5). Do you hear Jesus calling, recognize His voice and follow Him? Are you one of Jesus' sheep? (cf. v.14).

What has Jesus accomplished for all His sheep -- even for the whole world? He gave His life for the sheep! "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus, as our sacrifice, made full atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world (cf. 1 John 2:1-2).

And Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior, calls to us and offers to us forgiveness and life in His name. He seeks us out as a good shepherd does his lost and wandering sheep. Through the word of His Law, He shows us our sinful and erring ways and the end result -- eternal death and everlasting punishment (cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-9). And, through the word of His Gospel, He calls to us and offers to us pardon and life, green pastures, still waters and the protection of His rod and staff (cf. Psalm 23; John 10:1ff.; 10:9-10; Isaiah 40:11).

But not all recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. Those intent on going their own ways, following their own paths and choosing their own pastures and filthy watering holes do not listen to His voice or recognize Him as the Son of God, their anointed Savior. They reject Jesus and the life He offers and gives, even accusing Him of blasphemy (cf. v 25ff.).

Jesus' sheep -- those graciously predestined and chosen of God -- hear Jesus calling in His Word, the Bible (v. 27-28). By the Holy Spirit's working, they come to recognize Jesus' voice as the voice of God calling them to repent of their wandering ways and look to Jesus, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep and redeemed them. They hear His voice and follow Him, knowing that He will keep them in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting. No one is able to snatch them from Jesus' hand; for the Father, who is greater than all (and Jesus and the Father are one), will keep them and preserve them in the faith unto the everlasting joys of heaven (cf. v. 28-30; Rev. 7:1-19; Phil. 1:6; Rom. 8:28ff.; 2 Tim. 4:18).

Dear Lord Jesus, grant that we hear Your voice calling to us and recognize and follow You as our Good Shepherd and Savior. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Editorial on 04/20/2016