In recalling our visit to Israel a few years ago I am reminded of the encounter we had with a flock of sheep and goats. The animals were behind a large pen. As I walked up to the animals I could not resist petting them. They were walking away from me as I was calling out to them in English.
The shepherd who was standing near the pen, a very young man very middle eastern looking was watching me. I called to the sheep a few times but they ignored me. Then suddenly the shepherd called out to them in Hebrew and the sheep came running back to where we were.
The sheep knew his voice and came without hesitation. Later as the shepherd took them from the pen and walked them down the long path they were jumping all around him, bleating and running to keep up with him. You see, those sheep and goats knew their shepherd and loved to be with him.
It occurred to me then that God allowed me to see what it looked like to be a child of God, able to know the voice of the Great Shepherd when others in the sound of His voice do not hear or understand Him.
As I watched how excited the sheep and goats were to be with their shepherd when he called and ran after him when he walked away, I was struck with how our walk with Christ should be. We ought to be anxious and ready to search for Him, His heart, His will in the pages of His Book the Bible as well as in prayer to hear from Him.
We would never be confused about anything if we are patiently waiting for His answers. When we don't understand we know He has a purpose and eventually will reveal to us all that we need to know.
John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment