Bible League: Living His Word "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."Jesus has gathered us into His flock and He speaks to us. There are many different ways that He speaks to us. He speaks to us through the Bible, through Bible-based preaching, through wise friends, through children, through our consciences, through dreams and visions, through an inner voice, and so on. He speaks to us so that we will follow Him in the way that we should go. He speaks to us so that we will know what He wants us to do in life. Individual members of the flock recognize Jesus' voice because they have been given the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was about to leave this earth He promised His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit to guide them (John 14:16). When Jesus' voice is revealed to us in any of the above mentioned ways, it is the Holy Spirit that helps us recognize His voice. Without the Holy Spirit, we would not be able to follow Jesus. There are other voices that speak to us as well – strange voices. Satan and his minions also speak to us in many different ways. They speak to us through the various forms of mass media, through foolish leaders, friends, and acquaintances, through thoughts that enter our minds, and any of a multitude of other ways. They speak to us in an attempt to divert us from the way that we should go. They speak to us in an attempt to keep us from doing what Jesus wants us to do in life. Individual members of the flock realize that these other voices are not the voice of Jesus because they have the Holy Spirit within them. The Holy Spirit does not only help us recognize the voice of Jesus. He also helps us to recognize that the strange voices are, indeed, strange. When the voices of Satan and his minions are revealed to us in any of the above mentioned ways, it is the Holy Spirit that makes us wary of what is being said. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be vulnerable to the strange voices. Remember that there are voices everywhere and they are always addressing us. Let the Spirit within determine who they really are. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 119:1-48 Psalm 119 -- Blessed are those whose ways are blameless NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3 -- Christ as the Foundation; Rebuke for Divisions NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.Insight Many believed that Jesus came for the Jews only. But when Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me,” he was talking to these Greeks as well. No matter who the sincere seekers are, Jesus welcomes them. His message is for everyone. Challenge Don't allow social or racial differences to become barriers to the gospel. Take the Good News to all people. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 45:19 I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.We may gain much solace by considering what God has not said. What he has said is inexpressibly full of comfort and delight; what he has not said is scarcely less rich in consolation. It was one of these "said nots" which preserved the kingdom of Israel in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, for "the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven." 2 Kings 14:27. In our text we have an assurance that God will answer prayer, because he hath "not said unto the seed of Israel, Seek ye me in vain." You who write bitter things against yourselves should remember that, let your doubts and fears say what they will, if God has not cut you off from mercy, there is no room for despair: even the voice of conscience is of little weight if it be not seconded by the voice of God. What God has said, tremble at! But suffer not your vain imaginings to overwhelm you with despondency and sinful despair. Many timid persons have been vexed by the suspicion that there may be something in God's decree which shuts them out from hope, but here is a complete refutation to that troublesome fear, for no true seeker can be decreed to wrath. "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I have not said," even in the secret of my unsearchable decree, "Seek ye me in vain." God has clearly revealed that he will hear the prayer of those who call upon him, and that declaration cannot be contravened. He has so firmly, so truthfully, so righteously spoken, that there can be no room for doubt. He does not reveal his mind in unintelligible words, but he speaks plainly and positively, "Ask, and ye shall receive." Believe, O trembler, this sure truth--that prayer must and shall be heard, and that never, even in the secrets of eternity, has the Lord said unto any living soul, "Seek ye me in vain." Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 17:4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. Deuteronomy 13:1-4 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, • and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' • you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. • "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |