Make It Out Alive: A 5 Day Devotional by Kristian StanfillSample

That’s Not You

Who or what we’re listening to is critically important. The voices we allow in our lives can influence every part of who we are: from where we go to what we think about the world and ourselves. There are so many voices and sounds competing for our attention every day. So who do we listen to? How do we know what is true and what is false? The great news is that we have access to one voice that rises above the rest: God’s. One of the ways He speaks to us is through the Scripture. We can depend on God’s word to help us identify the truth, clarify and make sense of this sea of noise we live in.

In John 10, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd and us as His sheep. The main point here is that a shepherd leads his or her sheep by the sound of their voice. The sheep know the Shepherd’s voice and have grown to rely on it for guidance and protection.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” – John 10:27-28

But why is it essential for a sheep, and even more so for us, to follow the voice of a good Shepherd? Because as Jesus clarifies earlier in chapter 10, the mission of the Shepherd is to lead us into the fullness of life.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

These are the stakes that come with who we choose to listen to. When we listen to the ways of the world and follow the leading of our enemy and our sin, we not only miss out on the fullness of life but also head towards devastation and, ultimately, death.

The enemy knows we will become a real threat to the darkness if we live in the freedom and peace of God’s promises. So, he comes to us and whispers lies about who we are, our value to God and others, our appearance, our gifting, our relationships, and so many other things. He comes and stokes the fire of our shame and distracts us from living in the grace that is ours in Jesus.

So how do we know we are listening to the voice of Jesus? How do we become better acquainted with the gentle and loving voice of our Shepherd? The more time we spend with the Shepherd, the better we are at discerning His voice through the noise. The more we humble ourselves under God’s Word, the better we learn to identify the lies the enemy tells us. Jesus corrects us with compassion and grace, not shame and judgment. For instance, Jesus would never tell us we are worthless or replaceable. He speaks great worth over our lives and proves His love for us on the cross.

The Good Shepherd is inviting us to follow the sound of His voice. Deep and constant communion with Jesus helps us distinguish his voice so that when the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, we can confidently say, “Jesus, that’s not you.”