There were many who were reluctant to believe in Jesus in His day just as it is today, though His life and work were ample evidence that He is God’s Son. The Jews’ actions of trying to seize Him, stone Him proving their rejection of Jesus, can be seen today too by people’s rejection and separation from God, unwilling to believe in Him.

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Many a time people choose not to believe even when they know the truth. Their hearts are hardened due to their ignorance (Ephesians 4:18). Even when they hear and see the mighty works of God, they tend to be blinded in their mind, set on clinging to the wisdom of the world. Romans 8:7 says, “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.” The Bible repeatedly warns us to be cautious from having an unbelieving heart, falling away from the living God (Heb.3:9).

 

The key verse emphasizes on how different believers need to be from the world and the privileges we have:

We listen to His voice

It is difficult or nearly impossible to hear a person calling out to you if you are engulfed in the noise of loud sound (music/tv, etc). In the same way our Father in heaven tries to reach out to us but we fail to listen to His voice because we are often engulfed in the “noises of this world”- our busy and distracted schedules in life! We are bound to listen to things that we prioritize such that we miss out on the voice of God. Let’s learn to direct ourselves to what God wants to tell us by pausing amid our “business” and focusing on Him! Jesus says “… I know my sheep…” (John 10:14); He knows each one of us by name (John10:3). What a privilege it is to be known by the Almighty creator individually! He wants to communicate to us. Direct your attention to Him!

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We follow Him

When a father calls out to his son, the son recognizes the voice and goes to the father. John 10:4 says the sheep will follow because they know the shepherd’s voice. How do we learn to follow our Good Shepherd? The process requires that i) we need to spend time with God’s Word and keep our focus on God. ii) we will be led out by Him (John 10:3). iii) Our lives will start to change by following what we focus and hear. We become like a sheep, guided by the shepherd. Every walk and talk becomes aligned to what God desires as we start to stay away from worldly desires and distractions. John 10:5 says “But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”

The amazing results of the process (when you become the sheep of Jesus) is that:

• Nothing can snatch you out of His hand! (John 10:28-29)-A good shepherd protects and guides his flock. 
   

• The greatest gift of eternal life is given to all who believe in Him for none shall perish! (John 3:16) A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep- Jesus laid down His life becoming the ultimate sacrifice so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.

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Examine yourselves today: Do you belong to the flock of Jesus or have you deviated with the world running behind the stranger’s voice? Come to the Good Shepherd who will guide and lead you the right way!

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to turn our attention to You,

that we may hear Your voice and follow You.  

Amen