SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
Tuning
In
Read: John 10:1-10
When he brings out his
own sheep, he goes before them; and the
sheep follow him, for they know his
voice. —John
10:4
I
don’t know if this is true in every marriage, but for some
reason I have a
tendency to tune out everything around me
and concentrate on my own thoughts.
This is especially frustrating
to my wife, Martie, when she is talking to me
about something
important. When she notices the distant look in my eyes, she
often says, “Have you heard anything I’ve said?”
Listening
is an important part of any relationship, especially in
our relationship with
Christ. If we belong to Him, we have the
privilege of communing with Him
through His Word and the work
of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We know we are
paying attention
to the true Shepherd when His voice leads us to righteousness,
love, grace, and all that is consistent with His character and will.
As Jesus
made clear when He identified Himself as the “good
Shepherd” in John 10, those
who diligently listen to Him become
devoted followers of Him (v.4) who are
becoming transformed
into His likeness.
Just
as listening attentively to your spouse or a friend communicates
value and
worth, paying close attention to the voice of Jesus is one
way to affirm His
importance in your life. So, let’s cast aside the
distractions of life, tune in
to His voice, and pray for the grace to do
what He says.
I would be prayerful through each busy moment;
I would be constantly in touch with God;
I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod. —Walter
Listening to Jesus is the first step to following Him.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
