The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
— John 10:3-4
I love the passage of scripture that talks about Jesus as the Great Shepherd and how the sheep hear his voice and follow him. The language is so poetic that it just rolls off the tongue, but I have often wondered how Christians can truly know the voice of God. There seems to be some mystery surrounding the voice of God and, at times, Christians can become more mystical than biblical.
In 1983, I met Jesus Christ for the first time, and he became my personal Lord and Savior. I grew up in a Christian home with a strong Christian influence. Attending church has always been an integral part of my life, and every day I think about Jesus and what it means to know him and follow him. Yet I have often wondered about the voice of God. Which thoughts are my thoughts? Which thoughts are from my flesh? Which thoughts are actually from God? As a follower of Christ, I wanted to follow the voice of Jesus, but I just didn’t know how to do that. This confusion paralyzed me with indecision, unsure where to find God’s voice.
God’s voice is found in God’s Word. In times of crisis, needing to make a decision, the best place to start is God’s Word. It is in God’s Word that the believer is instructed on how to relate to God, others and self. God gave us the written and inspired Word to communicate and instruct the believer. 2 Timothy tells the believer that everything useful for teaching, correcting, and rebuking is found in scripture. God’s voice is found in God’s Word.
If you find yourself today looking for a word from God, look no further than the Bible in front of you. The Great Shepherd is calling out to his sheep.