Feb 15: It’s a choice to make.

Jn 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

 One of Jesus’ illustrations for his followers were the shepherd and the sheep. In John 10, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd, while those who followed him as the sheep. He distinguished between a good shepherd and a hired one, and taught the people that a good one can be trusted to look after the sheep, while the hireling would abandon the sheep when wolves came to attack. It’s one of the simplest and most effective analogies Jesus used in relation to discipleship.

Yet there were people around him who simply did not get it. They accused him to be demon possessed and out of his mind (Jn 10:19). Often times, they took stones to kill him because of His claims of being the Good Shepherd, or the Son of God. Why was it that some people got it and others didn’t?

From the beginning of time (as recorded in the Bible), there were both followers and rebels. Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Ruth, Esther, David were followers. Cain, Esau, Saul, Absalom were rebels. These were all ordinary human beings, yet there was a marked distinction in how they conducted themselves. The biggest difference between the followers and the rebels were whether they chose to listen to God’s voice or not. Whether it is Noah building the ark, or David seeking God’s advice for battle, or Ruth choosing to follow the God of her mother in law, the followers sought God with all their heart. And when God spoke, they not only listened, they also obeyed. The rebels also heard the voice of God directly or indirectly, however these chose to disobey God’s commands and do the exact opposite.

As human beings, one of our biggest powers is the power to choose. Animals cant, plants cant, or any other living being don’t have the ability to make the conscious choice between deciding to do good or bad. But we humans can. I think today’s verse can be expanded as “My sheep (choose to) hear My voice...and they (choose to) follow Me.”

The Pharisees and the religious leaders simply could not accept anything that Jesus said. They kept asking Jesus for signs as proof that He was the Messiah. When Jesus was on the cross, they said “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matt 27:42-43) Do you think they would believe in Jesus if He miraculously came himself down from the cross? Not a chance. They had already made their mind about Jesus. They were neither going to listen to Him or follow Him.

God has already spoken through His Son Jesus Christ (Heb 1:2). The Bible contains all of God’s instructions and plans to help us in this life (2 Tim 3:16). And the Holy Spirit has been sent to this world to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). So, no one can say “I didn’t know Jesus or what He wanted me to do.” To those who chose to follow Christ, you will hear His voice, and He will lead you perfectly – both in this world and into the next one where He waits for you.