I heard a thoughtful sermon at The Falls Church Anglican this morning. Among the texts read was this:
“To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:3-4 ESV http://bible.com/59/jhn.10.3-4.esv
From this text and its preaching I thought of an application. We recognize the voice of Jesus, as with anyone, because we are familiar with it. The same is true with His Word.
Too frequently folks say this: “I try to read the Bible but I don’t feel/get anything from it.”
I don’t think it’s about their inability to comprehend, it’s certainly not about the coherence of the Bible.
Maybe the challenge is that a chapter here and a chapter there a couple of times a week isn’t enough to really get to know the voice of the Lord speaking through the Scriptures that He inspired. Perhaps listening longer and more regularly will get us more used to the voice and then, when we hear that voice in the Word of God it will bring a feeling of familiarity. Then perhaps that familiarity will help us follow our Shepherd as He speaks to us from His Word.
kingdom travelin' 