His Sheep Hear His Voice
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
I’m guessing everyone wants to hear God’s voice. And there are many examples of this in Scripture.
In Acts 8:29, we read about the Spirit telling Philip to approach the Ethiopian eunuch. In Acts 16:6, we read the Spirit acts to forbid Paul to go into Asia and instead redirects him. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, the Apostle Paul writes that the Spirit reveals and teaches the deep things of God.
So does God do that today? Of course He does. But there is a problem.
While God can and does deliver individual communication – it could be comfort or instruction or conviction or other things, it's easy to long for this special connection while ignoring the massive communication that's sitting in front of us. And of course, I'm talking about the Bible.
It's easy to want a shortcut to having an intimate connection to God without having a real desire to actually become the person you were saved to become.
After witnessing God's mighty acts in Egypt and providing for them in the wilderness, the Israelites still demanded further signs. In Exodus 17, for example, the people questioned if God was actually with them. They wanted God on their terms.
In the Gospels, the religious leaders frequently demanded miraculous signs from Jesus to prove his authority, even after hearing him speak or hearing about his miracles or witnessing his miracles.
In Matthew 12, Jesus condemns this. If they were going to recognize Jesus as Messiah, they want to set the ground rules.
It's easy to want something more tangible or spectacular or immediate than God's word to confirm his authority or his caring. However, Scripture consistently teaches that God's word is sufficient and the Holy Spirit will work through it.
So, let me clarify: First, God has spoken to us and is speaking to us. Learn how to read the Bible for the truth it contains and for God's message to us.
Second, pray more. Pray that the Bible would cause you to see Jesus more clearly and that he would cause his name to be glorified in your thoughts and actions. It could be that if your singular goal in life was to become a living testimony of the gospel, many of the answers to our questions would be obvious.
And last, Jesus always meets us where we are, always. We could never check enough boxes to earn status with God. Our status is found only in Jesus' righteousness.
Here's a quote that I think works here. This is from Richard Sibbes,
“God speaks to those who listen to him and listens to those who speak to him.”
The question becomes, am I listening?
Kind Father, you are the great communicator. You have given us your word and the Holy Spirit speaks it to us. Please cause me to humble myself before you and please speak to me.
Song: Grace Alone