The Voice

Last night we watched a documentary on Killer Whale's. I found it fascinating how God created each family unit to have their own language, special to themselves. And, they stay with their mothers all of their lives. We have come in and destroyed their families, causing pain and horrible grief. The mothers and babies have cried out with their voices for each other, yearning to be together. 

It reminded me of a sermon I heard on God's voice, and the passages I read in John 10 this morning:

The Shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they all follow, because they are familiar with His voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't use to the sound of it.

Further down it is very clearly stated:

You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them in, too. They'll recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.

Just as God has created the whales to recognize each others own language within their family units, He has given us His Spirit so we can recognize His voice when He speaks to us. And, He does speak to us, in an audible voice, and He says we will hear Him.  He also says that when we hear the strangers voice we will scatter. 

So, the sermon I heard was intriguing because he was bringing up the culture today about how so many of us believe that God does not speak to us "that way." If someone says that they hear God speak to them in an audible voice, they are thought of as crazy. If we "hear" voices, then something is surely wrong with us! But, if we are believers in the Word of God, and we DON'T hear voices, isn't something wrong?  Doesn't He clearly say we will hear His voice? In another version, it says, "they know his voice" even then, to know his voice I'd have to hear it. 

When the Enemy is constantly throwing arrows my way, when there is a battle raging around me, I am praying. He is throwing lies at me, and when that happens, I do scatter. I scatter and run for the truth. I fall before my God to rest there in His green pastures. I do recognize His voice and it is good.

Jesus is my Shepherd, He is the Gate, He is the voice I hear, and He speaks to me. He is the truth, the way, and the light that shines through all darkness. He gathers his children and speaks to them, I will listen. Jesus, You have said that we will recognize your voice. Say That Again!