Alex on #Whispers

Do you want to hear from God? If so, are you ready to listen?


Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27). Christians are often compared to sheep in the Bible. It may seem like God is telling a cute little "sheep/shepherd" story; something for kindergartners, right?
Actually, God is using a metaphor. See, sheep were very important to the Hebrew people, the people for whom the Bible was first written. Most Hebrews were nomadic (moved often instead of living in one place) and relied on animals and agriculture for food and making a living. Sheep were very popular animals because of their wool.
Sheep also demonstate many character qualities that, ironically, relate to us! For example: Sheep are completely dependent on a shepherd. They are also fairly unintelligent, "Sheep will put their heads through a fence and keep wanting to go through the opening which is too small. It never occurs to them to draw back." (See here). Have you ever acted like that before? :) Sheep also have a tendency to get lost. Isaiah 53:6, "We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on [Jesus]..."
So, when Jesus talks about His "sheep", He's talking about you and me. We depend on Him for everything, even our next breath, we aren't too smart on our own and we tend to run away or ignore Him. But He loves us. And He invites us to listen to Him. He knows us. And He invites us to follow Him.
Despite our daily shortcomings, we can still listen to what God is telling us. God speaks through three outlets: 1) His People, 2) His Word, 3) His Spirit.


So, listen up! And be a sheep: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)


Alex W / Message Writer