Know His Voice

Hi, friends. Welcome to today's word of encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading is titled Know His Voice, and it was written by Julie Schwab. One year for vacation Bible school, Ken's church decided to bring in live animals to illustrate the scripture. When he arrived to help, Ken was asked to bring a sheep inside. He had to practically drag the woolly animal by a rope into the church gymnasium. But as the week went on, it became less reluctant to follow him.

By the end of the week, Ken didn't have to hold the rope anymore. He just called the sheep, and it followed, knowing it could trust him. In the New Testament, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd, stating that his people, the sheep, will follow him because they know his voice.

But those same sheep will run from a stranger or thief. Like sheep, we, God's children, get to know the voice of our shepherd through our relationship with him. And as we do, we see his character and learn to trust him. As we grow to know and love God, we'll be discerning of his voice and better able to run from the thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy. From those who try to deceive and draw us away from him. Unlike those false teachers, we can trust the voice of our shepherd to lead us to safety.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from the book of John, chapter 10, verses 1 through 10. Very truly I tell you, Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in by some other way is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger.

In fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore, Jesus said again, Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. Let's pray. Lord, there are so many voices all around us that try to convince us of so many things that aren't true and don't come from you. We are grateful to know that you're always present with us and are always whispering your truth to us. Help us learn to discern your voice from others we hear so that we can walk in truth and the abundant life you desire. Thank you, Father. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.