LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Monday 10th January 2022
LISTEN TO THE LORD
Scripture Reading: John 10
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28
Sheep are simple creatures surrounded by a very harsh world. In the days of Jesus, the sheep had predators such as wolves, bears and lions. In addition, there were thieves and robbers who came into the sheepfold to steal, kill or destroy the sheep. The sheep also had to contend with all kinds of life-threatening diseases in the field.
The method of the predators was to snatch the sheep from the shepherd. The thieves tried to trick the sheep by imitating the voice of the shepherd and the sicknesses and diseases weakened them until they perished.
Jesus used this analogy of the sheep and the shepherd to teach us about the kind of relationship that must exist between us and Him. He is the shepherd; we are the sheep. As the sheep is threatened by so many enemies, we also have enemies who want to snatch us from the hand of the shepherd, afflict us with diseases and destroy us.
How do we survive?
• Know the voice of the Lord.
• Follow the Lord obediently.
• Trust in the Lord’s protection.
God speaks to us daily through the Bible, the Holy Spirit and through His anointed servants who study and share God’s word with us. At least once, in every sermon, God breaks through the words of the preacher and speaks directly to the people. It may be in a single sentence or in just one phrase.
Let us pay attention to His voice.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my Instructor. Teach me to hear your voice and follow when you call. In Jesus’ name, Amen.