THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
TOPIC: LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF JESUS
TEXT: JOHN 10:22-42
22. Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
23. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
24. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25. Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.
26. "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29. "My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of My Father's hand.
30. "I and [My] Father are one."
31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
32. Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"
33. The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God."
34. Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '?
35. "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
36. "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
37. "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
38. "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father [is] in Me, and I in Him."
39. Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.
40. And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
41. Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true."
42. And many believed in Him there.
MESSAGE:
Our text tells of Jesus' encounter with the Jews. Jesus went to the temple and the Jews immediately gathered round him saying,“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (vs. 23-24). Jesus informed them that He had already answered their question through the works that bear witness of Him. He stated that they were not prepared to listen to his answer because they were not among His sheep (v.26). Listening to Jesus involves both hearing His voice and responding in obedience. Those who are His sheep know His voice and follow Him; they follow because He alone is the Good Shepherd who gives security, peace, joy and abundant life.
You may have 'heard' Jesus calling you, but have you 'listened' and responded to Him in faith? Jesus promised that those sheep that listen to Him have eternal life, shall never perish and nothing can snatch them away from His hand (v.28). Whose voice are you listening to? Who are you obeying? As we begin a new month today, draw near to Him and listen closely to His voice. Nothing will cut you away from His divine promises.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help me to always listen to Your voice and obey You faithfully in all situations. Amen.
Wishing you a very happy new month
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