4. “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.”

5. “Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them … I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
- John 10: 1-6, 14-16

7. In an ultimate sense, Jesus is God’s word, His communication to the world. In Jesus, we have received the most important words of God.

8. Have you heard the Good Shepherd call you by name; urging you into the dynamic saving relationship offered through Jesus Christ?

9. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:4). 

10. We can become so accustomed to the voice of God – a voice that I believe is continually calling out to us to lead us in following Jesus – that we begin to take it for granted.

12. Set aside some time this week to pay a little closer attention to the hum of Christ’s voice in the world around you.
Pray that God makes clear to you both the person to whom you are being sent as a wakeup call and the manner in which you are to speak to them.

13. Might we become more aware of the hum of God’s voice in our world and might we find ways to alert others to this incredible reality.