Live As Sheep Of The Good Shepherd

But remember that the connection between sheep and their shepherd can be traced back to the shepherd’s voice. The only way to remain in the Good Shepherd’s flock is to continue to listen to his voice. In John 8:31 our Shepherd said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” Also in John 15:7 Jesus says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” The Apostle Paul pictured listening to our Shepherd’s voice in a slightly different way in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Yes, living as sheep of the Good Shepherd means that we continually listen to our Shepherd’s voice.

But we all know there is a big difference between hearing someone’s voice and actually listening to it. My voice is traveling over the sound system here in our sanctuary. At this moment it is vibrating your eardrums. You are hearing me. But listening requires that you pay attention and that you give some thought to what I am saying. And so it is with the voice of our Good Shepherd. He says that we are to listen to God’s Word and obey it. Living as sheep of the Good Shepherd means taking his words to heart and applying them to all that we do in life.

Sadly, we often fail to listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd. Perhaps we don’t always do it intentionally. We simply let other voices grab our attention. Our day to day lives are so jammed full of information that we can barely find time to listen to Jesus’ voice. And then who of us here doesn’t have to admit that at times we just plain ignore our Shepherd’s words? He tells us not to graze in the green grass of sin. But we run to it and eat ourselves sick. He tells us to honor those in authority at home, in the government, and church. But we refuse. We are warned by our Good Shepherd not to abuse the bodies he gives us. And yet we do. He calls us to contentment, and we respond with greed. Our Shepherd tells us that no person, place, or pleasure will bring us happiness and yet we ignore his wisdom and try to find fulfillment in anyone and anything but him! Again and again we are guilty of not listening to the voice of our shepherd. Thankfully our Shepherd always calls us back. When we find ourselves lost and broken, starving for his care, he welcomes us back when we again listen to his voice.

Fellow sheep and lambs of the Good Shepherd. Let’s confess our sins of ignoring our Shepherd’s voice and of listening to other voices instead of his! Today, he speaks words of forgiveness and mercy. Immediately he opens his arms in love. He reminds us that he has given his life for us. Our sins are forgiven!

II.

Realizing that there is a difference between hearing our Shepherd’s voice and actually listening to it we can understand the second thought Jesus connected to living as one of his sheep, Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Living as sheep of the Good Shepherd means that we also follow where our Shepherd leads.