John 10:3-4 | Sheep follow Him

The Voice of the Shepherd

John 10:3-4 "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."

There is a voice calling men, different than every other voice we've ever heard. Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, Peter, James, John, Paul, and many more heard the audible voice of God. Whilst my name and yours may not be in that list, we can be sure that He has been calling. His voice does not have to be audible to be heard. Sometimes a whisper in our soul, sometimes a pang of conviction from the conscience He placed in us, sometimes an event in our lives reminding us of His presence and preeminence—all have heard, but not all follow this voice.

Hearing His Voice

What differentiates His sheep from the rest is that they heed this voice and come to Christ: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). They hear a voice calling. At first it may be a general calling, a little light, such as a sting of conscience or an act of His providence in their life. But by and by, as they heed the light, it becomes a deeply personal call. He calls His sheep by name. Like a father with his children, there comes a call that somehow we know to be His. No longer is it a suspicion of God's interest in us, but a full realization of who we are and who He is and what we must do—we must heed this call!

I remember as a child the pangs of conscience, and the light of Scripture, and the conversations with parents and preachers that were like a far-off beacon directing me to the harbor. Yet none of them compare to the voice of my Shepherd calling me. It was clear and distinct, and at the sound of it I somehow knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I must come to Him, and if I didn't there would be hell to pay. So I did. I came to Christ on a Thursday night at a revival meeting in August of 1997.

Being Put Forth

Then the same voice that bids us come will soon bid us go. Notice verse 4 says "when he putteth forth his sheep," not if. It is a certainty that the same voice that called us in will send us out. As He led us in, so will it be when He sends us out. Little by little certain things will grab our attention—a burden, a desire, imaginations of serving Him in a certain capacity, thoughts of another land—lesser lights leading us to the day when once again His deeply personal and unmistakable voice says directly to us: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel!" Or like Paul when he heard the Macedonian call and "assuredly gathered that the Lord called him to preach the gospel unto them."

Perhaps you remember coming to Him and you have been suspicious that He is now saying go. Rest assured He will make it known to you. When, where, and how in His perfect timing, I cannot tell you the details of how you will be "put forth," but I can assure you that to all He has called to come, He eventually bids them go.

He Goes Before You

To all who have heard the Macedonian call, take heart, for He "goeth before them!" He does not stay behind in the sheepfold whilst you go out. He does not lag behind you, driving you on, but He goes in front of you! He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake!

I remember hunting with my father and grandfather as a child, and they would lead me to the place, showing me where to step, how to step. I did not have to concern myself with direction or circumstances or all the things they were thinking of. The only concern I had was to mimic their every move. So it is with our Shepherd who is leading us. You need not concern yourself with the moves of the weeks and months ahead, even of the days ahead—just the steps. Mimic Him this morning. Put your foot where He is guiding it now, and the next step, and the next, and you will wind up where you're supposed to be.

Will You Heed His Voice?

Have you heard that voice this morning? His sheep do. To hear does not mean to simply acknowledge it, but to heed it, obey it, as our verse says, to follow it. Perhaps to some He is calling to lead you into the fold. Heed His voice before you die outside the door and spend eternity in a hopeless hell. Perhaps you heeded that call years ago, but it seems now that He is bidding you go. Take courage—He goes before you and leads you on in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Won't you heed the voice of your Shepherd today?