Hearing His Voice

Hearing His Voice

Jairus’s Daughter

Read: Mark 5:35-41

“Time for dinner!” Jackie yelled again from the kitchen. Minutes ticked by, and there was still no response. Irritated, she stalked down the hall and knocked on her son’s door. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?” Jackie demanded. Not a sound came from the room. Pushing open the door, she saw her teenager sitting on his bed, earphones planted on his head and his new MP3 player in his hands, totally oblivious to her calls.

The girl in Mark 5 heard a voice calling her, and not just from outside her door. When Jairus begged Jesus to come heal his daughter, the twelve-year-old girl died before they got to the house. Going into her bedroom, Jesus took her cold, lifeless hand and called out to her: “Little girl, get up!” In that instant, the girl was restored to life and health.

How did the girl feel to hear the powerful voice that even death obeyed? Perhaps Jesus’ voice was familiar to her if she had heard his teaching or had been among the crowds that followed him. Maybe she only sensed that her spirit was being irresistibly drawn to a voice of love and authority.

Jesus’ voice is calling each of us today. If we are spiritually dead, he is calling us to new life through faith in him. If we have already accepted the gift of eternal life, he calls us daily to follow his leading and to live in a way that pleases God. When we’re surrounded by constant noise, we can miss out on Jesus’ still, small voice. We have to plan some quiet time away from television, radios, cell phones, and MP3 players. We don’t want to block out Jesus’ calling to us—a lot more than dinner is at stake.

[Jesus said,] “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

Revelation 3:20