“My sheep
hear my voice. I know them and they follow me”
In claiming to be a follower of Jesus Christ, we have the dubious honour of being likened to sheep! However what ever parallels or comparisons are drawn from this analogy one must be that as one of his sheep Jesus claims that we are people who hear his voice!
As followers of Christ we are
told that we will hear his voice calling us, directing us, guiding us, protecting
and supporting us. But do we really listen?
Throughout history God has
listened to the cry of his people.
1.It
began in the garden, with the single cry of the lonely and terrified Adam. His
cry was for companionship, someone to share the responsibility and joys of Gods
creation with, and God heard his cry and created Eve.
2.
It continued with the cry of Abel’s blood spilt out onto the ground, the cry
for justice, and the demand for judgement.
3.
There was the cry of a people, enslaved by the rich and powerful. A cry for
someone to lead them out of their bondage into the promise land. God heard them
and sent Moses.
4.There
was the cry of Elizabeth in the night of her old age, united with many through
out the ages who in their loss and shame had been granted new life, a share in the
creative power of God. Elizabeth’s cry signals the beginning of a new and
radical way in which God would deal with his people. The ultimate answer to
this cry from humanity is the incarnation, the birth of Jesus.
When we are faced with our
own torments or difficult decisions do we really listen for the voice of God?
or do we rather listen to our
own voice-
the voice of reason,
the seductive call of our
secular consumer society that seeks to enslave us and rob us of our true identity
and dignity as one of Gods chosen ones?
My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow
me”
We know that there are many
who cannot and will not listen to the voice of our Lord and the terrible
consequences of not following him are evidenced all around us.
As one of God’s sheep we belong
to him and as one of his sheep we can hear him assure us that he will give us life,
will lead us to better pastures, will defend us in times of tribulation.
Congratulations to Sophie Elizabeth Hayes who was baptised at St John this morning. Our prayers go with her and her family.
