9 Keys to Walking in ChristSample

Key 5 - Listening To God’s Voice And Following Him. 

It’s a common opinion that as animals go, sheep are pretty helpless. For example, they can spend an entire day grazing and as they wander from one location to the next they never look up to see where they’ve wandered too. Then due to the fact that they lack the instinct to find their way home, they often become lost. There is however one thing they can do well which is to listen. In ancient times for instance, when sheep from various flocks would gather around a well, a shepherd could divide their flocks from the other flocks by simply calling out to them. The sheep knew their shepherd’s voice so well that they listened for their shepherd and followed him when they called. 

Shepherding, especially in ancient times, came with a huge job description as they cared for the sheep as their provider, protector, physician, guide and more. They were completely dedicated to caring for the sheep and in turn, the sheep were completely dependent upon them as their shepherd.

We are like sheep in many ways and while you live in this world there are many flocks and shepherds of one sort or another surrounding you. They are vying for your attention and through them, many voices want you to listen to, follow, do, say, and be what they want. They also want to lead you where they want you to go and that's not always a good place! 

You, on the other hand, need to listen to your Shepherd Jesus Christ’s voice and follow Him only! 

God’s Word uses the imagery that we are His sheep because Jesus is The Good Shepherd. As his sheep, we need Him to lead, provide, protect, guide us, and more— because we are completely dependent on Him!

To hear God’s voice you have to reject conforming to this world and, instead, allow God to transform you by His Spirit. You need to listen to Him through abiding in Him and His Word so you will grow to know Him more.  His voice will be very familiar to you as opposed to voices of other so-called shepherds. 

Jesus is The True and Good Shepherd Who wants you to hear His voice and follow Him. The question is, will you listen to Him and will you allow Him to lead you?

As you listen to God’s voice and follow Him, you will live out another vital key to walking in Christ. 

Questions to get started with: Do I actively listen to and for God’s Voice? Do I actively follow Him? Do I abide in His Word so I can become familiar with my Shepherd’s voice? What do the scriptures I just read teach me about listening to God’s voice and following Him? What do I need to change in order to more effectively listen to God’s Voice and follow Him?