Listening Grace
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
In the time Christ walked on this earth, many of the shepherds would use the same sheepfold at nighttime for protections against wild animals or thieves. A sheepfold was typically a walled circle of stones placed on top of each other to provide a type of hedge between the sheep and the outside world. One of the shepherds would take watch through the night and would lie in the doorway to guard the flock. As morning would come, the individual shepherds would awaken and begin calling out to their flock to follow for grazing in the pastures. Sheep are supposed to be the dumbest animals, yet when they heard the voice of their master, their shepherd, they would follow them.
Isn’t it amazing that Christ would use such a wonderful example to explain this truth about those of us that belong to Him; ….my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. You see only the true children of God will hear his voice. It may be through a friend, a book, the Bible, or even a preacher. The fact remains it IS possible to hear the voice of God. Sitting alone and reflecting on the voice of God brings to my mind the need for ears attuned or turned on to what God has to say. Even those of us belonging to God may not hear the voice of Him calling to us when we fill our minds and hearts with the things of this world. We tune Him out with the world. Do you see the importance here of separation from the world? Just as the shepherd would place a “hedge of protection” around the sheep, we as God’s children must place the hedge of God’s Word around us. Find time in every day to get alone, away from the pressures and necessities of life, to spend time listening to God. He provides everyone who desires “listening grace”. Do you desire to spend time with the Lord? Shhh…. listen….do you hear Him?
May God receive All Glory and All Praise!
Sherry Cozart
In the time Christ walked on this earth, many of the shepherds would use the same sheepfold at nighttime for protections against wild animals or thieves. A sheepfold was typically a walled circle of stones placed on top of each other to provide a type of hedge between the sheep and the outside world. One of the shepherds would take watch through the night and would lie in the doorway to guard the flock. As morning would come, the individual shepherds would awaken and begin calling out to their flock to follow for grazing in the pastures. Sheep are supposed to be the dumbest animals, yet when they heard the voice of their master, their shepherd, they would follow them.
Isn’t it amazing that Christ would use such a wonderful example to explain this truth about those of us that belong to Him; ….my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. You see only the true children of God will hear his voice. It may be through a friend, a book, the Bible, or even a preacher. The fact remains it IS possible to hear the voice of God. Sitting alone and reflecting on the voice of God brings to my mind the need for ears attuned or turned on to what God has to say. Even those of us belonging to God may not hear the voice of Him calling to us when we fill our minds and hearts with the things of this world. We tune Him out with the world. Do you see the importance here of separation from the world? Just as the shepherd would place a “hedge of protection” around the sheep, we as God’s children must place the hedge of God’s Word around us. Find time in every day to get alone, away from the pressures and necessities of life, to spend time listening to God. He provides everyone who desires “listening grace”. Do you desire to spend time with the Lord? Shhh…. listen….do you hear Him?
May God receive All Glory and All Praise!
Sherry Cozart