Listen

The time came for the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon. The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, “How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep.”

John 10:22-26

Think

Jesus was in Jerusalem celebrating the Festival of Dedication when the religious leaders bombarded him with questions, as they usually did, to trick him into saying something to get him in trouble. They demanded, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

In John 8, Jesus already DID tell them plainly saying, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God. Here I am. I haven’t come on my own. God sent me. Why don’t you understand what I’m saying? It’s because you can’t really hear my words” (John 8:42-43). They didn’t understand because they didn’t recognize God’s voice, God’s truth.

How do we really know Jesus and if we are following the right voice? By getting to know Christ’s voice, God’s word, as we spend time with God in prayer and reading the Bible. John 10:14-15 says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me… I give up my life for the sheep.” Get to know Jesus so you can recognize his voice.

Stella Perrin

Pray

God, there are so many voices competing to be the truth in our world.

Help me to get to know you better so I can recognize and follow you.

Amen.

Go

Go, cherished child of God, trusting in and listening to the Good Shepherd to guide and care for you.