Today’s Scripture: John 9:39, NIV- “Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.””
I find I can best hear Jesus’ voice with my eyes closed. As Jesus told the Pharisees in John 9:41 because they claimed they could see, they were blind. We must first humble ourselves before Jesus. We should not claim to know what we do not. The Pharisees and “the church” have inflicted too much human understanding instead of directing people to the gatekeeper.
Jesus told the Pharisees and He is telling us that He is our shepherd and our gatekeeper. We are to go where we hear and recognize His voice. We must become blind and deaf to many loud voices. If someone claims to know the way and they are not directing you to Jesus and His voice then guard your eyes and ears. Pray for the blinding of Jesus.
Jesus healed the blind man, and we can pray that Jesus opens our eyes to clearly see His ways. If you close your eyes and listen to discern Jesus’ voice over any others, can you hear Him? Where do you hear him? Thinking back now on the times I have “heard” Jesus, I recall hearing Him well within me and reverberating along my spine.
For me this is not an auditory hearing of Jesus’ voice. For me it is recognizing His voice that is not mine and is distinguishable from the world around me. In reading John 10:3 which states “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (NIV)
I found that Jesus did call my name on January 9, 2008, I heard my name, “Tom, every affirmation you will ever need is found in My Word.” Here I am after fifteen years of harvesting affirmations and attempting to share how Jesus speaks to us when we are blinded to everything else. Alcoholism had blinded me and stripped me of what I claimed I knew. Yes, I had been like the Pharisees and claimed to know Jesus even as I drank every day.
I just thought I knew Jesus. I did know about Him but once I was blinded and was intently listening for a voice of reason and hope, I am thankful that the voice of Jesus did come to me. I am confident I am not special. I am more confident that the voice of Jesus is there for all of us if we will close our eyes to the world’s distractions and be still and quiet. More so, combining these quiet moments with the reading of God’s Word we will begin to hear Jesus in new ways. Unmistakably the voice of Jesus.
As John 10:4, NKJV states, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” The more we listen the more we know His voice. As John 10:5 warns us there are stranger’s voices we need to run from. They are enticing and claim to know the way, but they are more blind than we.
The Pharisees nor much of the world around us understand what Jesus is telling us in these scriptures. I am thankful that Jesus is my gate. I am praying to only hear and see Jesus. LORD protect me from all other voices. Jesus, I am entering Your gate of salvation and coming and going as You direct.
It seems it is much easier to hear the voices of the thief who has come only to steal and kill and destroy; but we must listen to Jesus who came so that we may have life, and have it to the full as promised in John 10:10. I am thankful the good shepherd laid down His life for us. Jesus knows us and we must spend time listening to know Him. We must consistently listen to His voice, so it resonates above all other noises and voices. Like Jesus in John 10:17 when we lay our lives down for Him, we also take them back up to act on the commands He gives to us.
We cannot expect the world to understand. Many will claim we are raving mad as the Jews did to Jesus. We do not need to convince the world but show them with the works Jesus tells us to do. By these works we do in the Father’s name will testify for us as it did Jesus. We can believe because we have chosen to be His sheep and to listen for our Shepherd’s voice.
Are you listening?
Today’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking to us. Help us to know Your voice so that we follow You. Thank You for coming to show us Your ways and Your gate. Thank You for eternal life. Thank You Lord Jesus for leading us safely into our Father’s hand. Thank You for making us one with You and the Father. You are our Shepherd, and we are listening for Your voice, so we know You and You know us. Thank You for sending us out to do Your works. Bless us to live to the full in Your works so that many believe and hear Your voice. Amen.
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