Recognizing His Voice - a Sermon Based on John 10:1-21 & Psalm 23

A Love Works Daily Commentary

Have you even gotten one of these calls?

"Hi! Please stay on the line for an exciting offer from endless mortgage and casualty insurance corporation.....

It's not even a person. It's a machine calling with a recorded voice.

We used to have to deal with just all that junk mail, now we get junk phone calls.  

Does anyone actually listen to the message?

Does any one respond to them or do they do what I do. Hang up.

Sometimes the call is a real person. But I immediately know if it's a sales call, or someone I know.

How they say my name is the dead giveaway,

If the call starts with "Is Timothy there?" I know that it's either my mother and she's really mad at me, or it's someone I don't know, or more importantly, someone who doesn't know me.

Calling me Mr. Henry is another way I can spot the stranger.

Mr. Henry is my Dad, and he doesn't live here. Sorry. Click.

And please don't start the call with Sir. Don't call me Sir, I work for a living.

If someone does get my name right, then it comes down to recognizing the voice.

Do I know this person? Do they know me?

Some times they've got me at Hello. Sometimes someone's voice is so familiar that they need only say Hello, and I am comfortable that I know them, and they know them.

But I am hesitant to share a lot with a unfamiliar voice. But I am comfortable to share my soul with a voice I recognize.

Today is known in some circles as "Good Shepherd Sunday" and thousands and thousands of congregations around the world wi11 be sharing the words and teachings of the 10^th chapter of the book of John.

Many have come together today to hear the voice of the Shepherd and learn to follow Him.

And many first recognized His voice in these verses.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me

beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of

righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of

death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine

enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.