JOHN 10:27

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

TO PONDER

I’m writing this devotion while at our NSW/ACT District ministry conference at Warrambui. Interestingly, the theme of the conference has been about seeing with new eyes what God is up to in the world. And while today’s verse is more about hearing, there is something that connects the two.

How often do we get to the end of a day and feel like we have not seen God at work or heard from him at all? Part of the problem is how easily our attention is drawn to the immediate things that confront us each day and we default to addressing these problems immediately on our own and in our own strength. If we are completely honest, most of the time we don’t really expect God to show up or speak to us. So, even when he does, we often do not see, hear, or recognise him.

Here Jesus reminds us that as his sheep, we are able to hear him when he calls us. We should expect to hear his voice clearly and be able to follow where he leads.

If you are reading this and thinking, “well that’s great for a pastor, but I don’t hear from God like that”, then can I encourage you today to spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you hear and see him at work in your life today? God is calling to his people, at work in our lives through His word and Holy Spirit. He has promised to do this and is doing it. Usually we just need a new way of seeing or hearing through the distractions. The more we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, the more we expect to see and hear him at work in our lives the easier it will be for His voice to cut through the noise of the world and to lead us in his paths.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, I thank you that you have promised to be with me, to lead and guide me through this life and into eternal life with you. Please help me to listen to you with new ears and see you at work in my life with new eyes so that I may more closely walk in your ways and others may see you at work in me. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle