Tuesday, May 9, 2017

9 May 2017 - no backseat shepherding

 
Saint Barnabas



We need to learn to hear the voice of Jesus. We need to learn to recognize it. He speaks to us regardless of whether or not we will listen. He tells us who he is. This doesn't help if we don't listen.

How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe.


If we let Jesus shepherd us, if we are willing to be counted as his sheep, and if we learn to recognize his voice, we become able to hear and believe what he tells us. We come among the other sheep and together with them we gain exposure to the sound of the voice of Jesus. We come to trust that sound. We learn to recognize the truth of it. Then, even when he says things which are difficult to accept we can still believe him.

My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.


Once we are a part of the flock we should "remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart". It is true that no one can take us out of the hand of Jesus. It is emphatically true that this is not only a safe place but the only place of safety. Only here do we find eternal life. Yet the exhortation to remain faithful is still needful for us. We need to persevere to the end to be saved. No one can take us from his hand. Nothing, not even life or death, can separate us from Jesus. But we can walk away. We can even drift away if we do not have this firmness of heart.

The LORD continues to speak to his sheep. Firmness of heart means continuing to listen. It means not walking away. It means not wandering off, distracted by the oppressively insistent present. It is tempting, isn't it, to try to navigate the gate, the sheepfold, and the world, based on what we see, based on maps we have, based on anything but the voice giving us directions? We're all guilty of being backseat shepherds. Let's give that up today and cling to the voice of Christ.

All you nations, praise the Lord.

 


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