I’ve been thinking today of a parable the Savior told.
John 10:1-7 – Verily, verily, Isay unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
I’ve been thinking about hearing the Savior’s voice, knowing Him, and following Him with full faith. I’ve been wondering how often I let other voices sneak into my life that try to distract me from my Master. I’ve been praying for the strength to know the difference and “follow not the stranger”. I want to always be found in the Good Shepherd’s fold. I want to always be one of His lambs. I can’t think of a better place to be. That is a disciple’s true desire: to emulate and follow Christ by coming to know Him personally, to understand who He is and what we mean to Him.
His voice will always lead us to do good, to feel the comfort and safety of His love even in the darkest hours of our lives. We find it in the scriptures as we read and study him . It’s in the inspiring words of those in our congregations and families. It’s there in the smile and wave from a neighbor. The freshly fallen snow, the blossoms in spring, the cry of a newborn, all testify of Him. Are we listening?
I think of the story of Elijah from the Old Testament, when he is called to the mount to stand before the Lord. A strong wind comes, but the Lord was not in it. An earthquake comes, but the Lord was not in it. Fire comes, but the Lord was not it. Then, Elijah hears the still small voice of the Lord. Sometimes we forget the part of the story that explains the Lord came with the wind and the earthquake and fire, but it was not until there were no distractions that Elijah recognized His presence and heard His voice.
1 Kings 19:12 – And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice
It may not be strictly true, but I wonder sometimes if the Lord had to send the large and noticeable things in order to get Elijah’s attention, to help him focus and really hear what the Lord had to tell Him. I also wonder if this same thing happens in my own life. Have there been times when I’ve been called to come closer to the Lord, but He has needed to use something large to get my attention and humble me so that I am ready to listen?
How many times during the day do I miss the ways the Good Shepherd calls to me? What does it take for me to hear those calls? It takes awareness. It means noticing the Lord’s hand in everything around us, becoming in tune with His many blessings and His Spirit. Then, it takes quite, pondering, searching, and reaching deep into our soul. Then, His voice is heard.
Does God still talk to man? Does the Savior still call for His sheep to follow Him?
Yes.
The real question is— Are we listening?
