Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

When I discussed yesterday’s post with my wife, she pointed out that hearing may initiate re-centering, but it’s our response that activates it. So, let’s explore God’s call-n-response dynamic.

Today scripture, John 10:25-27 (KJV) says…
[25] Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. [26] But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Consider…
My wife’s point was based on the wording of verse 27. She pointed out…

• Sheep hear they’re Shepherd’s voice
• Shepherds know their sheep
• Sheep respond to their Shepherd’s call by following

This simple breakdown reveals some hidden gems tucked away in Jesus’ words…

• There’s an intimate connection between sheep and their Shepherd

Dana gave the example of her and a cousin being at a family event, and both calling out ‘MOMMA!’. Because both mothers know their daughter’s voice, each knew their response was needed. What’s also interesting, is there where many other mothers in earshot, who didn’t respond because it wasn’t their child calling.

This is a great illustration of relationship rendering response.

• Next, we discover there may be many voices, but only one matters

This reminds me of parents who remind their children who they belong to regardless of what’s going on and what others say and do. Also to remember the expectations of their caregiver.

Oh that our Heavenly Father’s children would hear, and heed the same message.

• The third and final nugget is that sheep hear and follow.

There’s a wonderful Children’s Church song that says…

Trust and Obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
Than to trust and obey

I, like many Christians, have placed emphasis on the ‘trust and obey’ lifestyle. Yet, in my search of scriptures, I found God’s emphasis is on hearing and following.

The Holy Spirit transformed my thinking to recognize the simple definition of obedience is follow what’s been said, taught or expected.

Then the Holy Spirit showed me Hebrews 11:7-8 (NLT) as an illustration…
[7] It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. [8] It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

God told Noah to build the Ark even though he had never seen rain, and He told Abraham to leave what he knew and follow who He didn’t know.

These heroes of faith are perfect illustrations of the Call and Response God wants with His children. He speaks, and we affirmatively respond.

The Lord also used this Hebrews passage to connect the dots, which is ‘hearing and following’ are the pillars of faith!

Following
An
Instruction
That’s
Heard

God wants us to follow His instructions even when we don’t know the details. Said another way, He wants us to demonstrate our faith without knowing His facts.

God says I want you to do what I say before I show you what I’ll do.

Let’s hearken back to yesterday’s focus scripture, John 21:4-7 (NLT)…
[4] At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. [5] He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. [6] Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. [7] Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

Notice it was after the disciples heard and followed Jesus’ instruction, that they realized it was Him in their midst. They did what they were told before they realized who He was! But don’t miss a key point, this wasn’t a new request from Jesus, John knew it was Him because he heard, followed and saw the same results before.

This shows us we need to be familiar with, and attuned to God’s voice (the only one that matters), and aware of his words.

Deuteronomy 13:4 (NLT) instructs…
[4] Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

Do you see it, ‘listen and cling’, also known as ‘hear and follow’.

So how do we know if it’s God’s voice we have heard? The answer is simple, does it align with His Word!

Remember when Jesus was tempted with the illegitimate voice in the wilderness. Matthew 4:2-4 (NIV) recounts…
[2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” [4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Notice Jesus responded to the temper’s words with God’s Holy Word, which says that we need to wholly depend on, and follow whatever God’s said.

The Holy Spirit is convicting me to spend less time debating or rationalizing God’s word, and simply ‘hear and follow’ It!

Today, God wants us to followingly sing Shirley Caesar lyrics in every aspect of our lives…

I’ll say, “Yes, Lord, yes”
To Your will and to your way
I’ll say, “Yes, Lord, yes”
I will trust You and obey
When your Spirit speaks to me
With my whole heart I’ll agree
And my answer will be, “Yes, Lord, yes”

Let’s re-center ourselves daily by demonstrating our faith with a following response to God’s call.

Today’s song is…
Respond

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)