Day 9: Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice
1 “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. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” - John 10:1-5
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.16I 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 10:14-16
Devotional:
One of my favorite activities at a JH Ranch retreat occurs on the Parent/Child low ropes course. They blindfold the students and ask them to follow the voice of their parent through a series of obstacles. At a couple different points other voices try to persuade the kids to follow them instead of their parents. They have to discern who to listen to. It’s a powerful reminder of the weight of words as well as influence.
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, whose sheep know His voice and follow Him. Just as sheep learn to recognize the unique voice of their shepherd, we too are invited to know and follow Jesus’ voice above all others. In a world full of distractions, tuning into His voice requires intentional time and attention, choosing to seek Him amid the noise around us. Jesus promises that those who listen to Him are secure in His care, never to be lost or taken from Him. This comforting assurance encourages us to lean into His guidance, listening to His words of peace, love, and protection daily.
Reflection Questions:
What helps you recognize the voice of Jesus in your life?
How can you prioritize listening to Him above other distractions?
Prayer Prompt:
Ask Jesus to help you discern His voice clearly, thanking Him for being the Shepherd who knows, loves, and leads you.