John 10:5 (Amplified Bible)

“They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run

away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or

recognize their call.”

Jesus is speaking about how He is the Shepherd.  He speaks about His sheep, about how they listen to His voice and follow Him.  In verse 5 He makes a powerful statement: His sheep will never follow a stranger because they do not recognize their voice.  Let us think about this a little more.  We are constantly telling our children “Don’t speak to strangers”, “Don’t go with strangers.”  Why do we say that?

 

Our intention is that we want our children to be safe.  We don’t know what strangers would do to them.  Some strangers are nice, while eithers are evil, but how would you know if they are nice or evil?  You just don’t risk it.  The interesting thing is that we already know the kind of strangers Jesus was referring too.  We know what he’s capable of doing to us.  We see how his sheep end up at the slaughter’s house.  He doesn’t care for his sheep.

 

But, too many times we find ourselves following a stranger’s voice.  I know we try to cover it up, but in reality, we get lead by strangers when we doubt God or when we disobey His Word.  Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice and follow me.”  They just don’t hear his voice, they move towards it.  As soon as God speaks, the stranger’s voice begins to call out to us, too.  The stranger doesn’t want you to follow Jesus.  So you have to make a choice, whose voice will I follow?

 

When Jesus says, “run away from him,” I don’t think he’s meaning that should run away in fear of him, but that you should turn (repent: change the way you think; change your direction) from his direction and into Jesus’ direction.  Every day you will have a chance and an opportunity to follow Jesus voice.  At the same time, the stranger’s voice will be harassing you to follow him.  The decision is yours to make, but just be ready for the consequences, whether good or bad.

 

Listen to the voice of Jesus and follow Him.  He will lead you to the right path.  And if the stranger’s voice is calling out to you, just keep on walking past him, knowing that the One you are following is all you really need!

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Devotionals, Reflections by Adilson Chacón