August 08, 2020: SOAP #3901:  Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

Scripture:  John (NIV) 10:3 [Jesus speaking] The watchman opens the gate for him [the shepherd], and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Observation:   The sheep that belong to The Shepherd listen to the shepherd’s voice.  They follow him because they know his voice.  They do not follow strangers because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.  Their ears have been trained. 

The little lambs hear all the voices around, but they learn which voice is the voice of their shepherd by watching their mama.  They are soon following because the recognize that special voice.  They do not follow the stranger because they recognize his voice, they just know that it is not their shepherd.  Their shepherd does not sound like that! 

Application:   Every few days, someone will post a note on Facebook telling us that we should type in a word as a response, forward that note to 10 or 15 people, and send a copy back to the one who sent it to us.  Supposedly this will demonstrate our love for God, or we will get a prayer answered, or we will receive some blessing. 

My spirit is always troubled by the number of people who follow those directions.  In reading today’s scriptures, the Lord showed me why.  Those who respond want to please the Lord but do not recognize His voice, so they follow anyone who will tell them what to do.  They would not want their children responding to them in such a manner, but they do it to the Lord.   

Prayer:  There are so many voices in the world today.  Holy Spirit, train my ears.  Help me to quickly recognize the voice of my Shepherd.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity! 

For trained ears:  1 Pray every day.  2 Ask God to help you recognize His voice.  3 Include listening time in your prayer time.  4 Always be ready to write down what God says.   5 Read the Bible every day.  6 Pay attention to what God is saying to your pastor and other believers around you.  7 Thank Him for loving you enough to personally talk to you.