Whose Voice Do You Listen To?

Whose voice do you listen to? No matter what you believe about life, everyone listens to voices. Some listen to God’s voice, though they have to train themselves first to recognize it, then discipline themselves to obey it. While others listen to their own voice. And even though it may seem right to them, it does not lead them down the right path (Prov 14:12). Then there are those that listen to every voice out there (except God’s voice), being tossed to and fro on the waves of worldly desires. They spend all their time trying to feel good or gain significance from others. This is the worst of the voices to listen to because their is no stability in it; it’s constantly changing. Whatever is popular is always the prominent voice here. Right and wrong don’t exist with popularity, at least it’s not the determining factor. When you learn to recognize and obey (follow) the voice of the True Shepherd, you’re led towards greener pastures. You’re led to salvation. You can freely come and go. Most importantly, you have the Truth inside of you. The Truth allows you to discern right from wrong. What should be from what shouldn’t. It allows you to rest at night because you have true peace. And when you have the Truth, it sets you free from the temptations and pull of those worldly voices leading you away from the Savior. The voice you listen to determines everything. Choose wisely, otherwise you’re only fooling yourself. You can only pretend for so long.

1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what He meant, 7 so He explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.14 “I am the good shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me,15 just as My Father knows Me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice My life for the sheep.16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.17 “The Father loves Me because I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again.18 No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what My Father has commanded.”19 When He said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about Him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of His mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” John 10:1-21