John 10:27 | Hearing God
Jesus said in John 10:27 ESV, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Hearing the voice of God is a mystical and abstract concept. A word from God can be transformational and healing, but who is to say whether a word is from God, something we made up, or somewhere else entirely? I’ve seen people do extraordinary things because they felt a prompting from the Lord. We’ve also seen people do odd or outright wrong things claiming to have been directed by God.
I’m a firm believer that God speaks to his people. I even believe that God brings warnings and encouragement through his prophets. But before we wonder how we hear the voice of God or try to start categorizing true and false words, we can rest in the truth that we can hear the voice of God.
Jesus did not give a description in John 10 of what it looks like practically to hear his voice. He explains that we already can. That might be frustrating for some believers who struggle to hear God’s voice. A manual for hearing God would be a wonderful thing! Perhaps such practicalities exist, but I get the sense that Jesus was intentionally avoiding being specific in his message.
I wonder if this is because hearing God’s voice isn’t a skill to develop as much as a gift to unwrap. What if hearing God was something that we just have? What if this gift was as fundamental to our existence as breathing in and out? Could it be that the journey to hearing God is about learning to listen to a voice that other spiritual, mental, or emotional noises might drown out?
Faith has a way of unlocking encounters with God. I am so grateful that John shared this story from the life of Jesus because it interrupts my religious striving with a word of truth. While I am working to hear God, Jesus talks about family matters. In his eyes, we already have everything we need to hear his voice. Our abiding journey changes when we have the faith to believe we are created with an ear to heaven and that the God we serve is actively speaking and desiring to know us.
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired from the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
