Babies spend nine months in their mother’s womb and during that time, they hear their mother speak. They begin to recognize their mother’s voice. The sound of their mother’s voice comforts and soothes them. No other voice can do this for them. The allegory of the Shepherd and the Sheep in John tell us the same thing. Once we’ve entered the sheepfold through salvation, we belong to a flock and there’s a Shepherd who takes care of His sheep. But according to this verse in John 10:3, each sheep has a name and is unique. And He calls each sheep by their name.
As part of the sheepfold, we learn to recognize His voice. And what He says to me today will probably be different than we He says to other sheep. He will speak into my life because He knows what I need to hear. You and I can read the same passage and we’ll both hear different things. Not different truths because there is only one truth, but different ways to apply it. I need to hear His voice today and so do you.
His voice is the strongest and most powerful through His Word. I often get asked about devotionals… which ones I think are the best. I will say there are some good ones out there (and others that have become controversial), but I don’t use devotionals in my personal time with the Lord each day. Don’t get me wrong… I write Bible studies and I couldn’t do it without commentaries, Christsian books, and even devotionals, but when I come to the Lord each day in quiet, I only take my Bible.
I believe that when we have a devotional next to the Bible, the Shepherd’s voice can get a little muffled. You’re in essence listening to two voices. What the author hears from the Lord about a passage might not be what the Lord wants to speak to you about. My goal with these daily devotionals is to encourage God’s people with the Word of God, but they are not meant be a supplement for the voice of the Shepherd.
Here's the thing… it takes time to hear spiritual truth. Our ears eventually become accustomed to His voice, but it doesn’t happen overnight. I’ve been walking with Jesus since I was 16… 52 years. I know His voice so much more now than I did in my early days of faith. But one thing the Lord has impressed on my heart that I would love to convey to God’s people is that His voice is for all of us and we can hear Him speaking. So, let me encourage you to put aside all other books in your quiet time with the Lord and only use His Word. Read His Word systematically and out loud. And I know you will discern His voice. And in today’s world, we need to hear His voice.