Following To Hear

Read: John 10:1-18

After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. John 10:4

IN WORD

Sheep are followers. They aren’t smart followers; they will go straight down a dangerous path if the one in front of them is leading them there. That means the welfare of the sheep is up to the shepherd. They can’t look after themselves, so someone has to do it for them. They have no problem going somewhere, but they have little discernment about which way is best. Sheep need to be led.

That’s why Jesus compared us to sheep. We need to be led. We like to think we’re intelligent—and according to our God-given design, we are—but we have little discernment about which way is best. What seems most logical and most sensible to us is often what is most dangerous. We can’t see the entire landscape, but our Shepherd can. He knows what lies ahead. And He knows how to get us to a place of safety and peace. He knows where all the green pastures are.

Followers need to be able to hear the one who is giving direction. Jesus assures us that He goes before us, fully aware of what is on the path ahead. We may not see very far, but we can trust the Shepherd who does. We need to learn His distinctive sound so well that we instinctively follow where He’s leading. We need, like Jesus said, to follow not just because we are followers but because we know His voice.

How do we do that? A good first step is to follow what we’ve already heard. Just as the sheep follow the Shepherd because we know His voice, we also learn His voice by following Him. The two go hand in hand. The more we embrace current insights, the more He gives us new ones. He speaks to those who have proven they have ears to hear.

IN DEED

Follow what you know to be true. Kingdom citizens have to be good hearers, but listening alone is not enough. We have to act on what we’ve heard. If the Shepherd is leading and we’re standing still, His voice will become fainter and fainter. But if we follow, we’ll hear more. That’s the way of the Kingdom and a key to learning its ways. Sheep follow because they hear, and they hear because they follow.

ADDITIONAL READING: Luke 6:46-49

It is essential that we acquire the habit of hearkening to His voice.

FRANÇOIS FÉNELON