"My Sheep Hear My Voice"

One morning while shepherds were eating their breakfast, one of their sheep jumped off a 45-foot cliff to its death. Then, as they looked on, they were stunned as the rest of the flock followed. In all, 1,500 sheep mindlessly stumbled off the cliff. The only good news was that the last 1,000 were cushioned in their fall by the growing pile of those sheep who jumped first. According to witnesses, 450 sheep died that morning.

Throughout the Bible, human beings are often referred to as sheep (cf. Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 9:36). Easily distracted and susceptible to group influence, sheep would rather follow a multitude of sheep than the wisdom of their shepherd.

The Bible also describes sheep in a positive way. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd …. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:14; John 10:27). Those sheep who know the Good Shepherd’s voice, will not follow the voice of a stranger (John 10:3-5)

So the big question for us is: Which shepherd are we following? Are we following one another, self-centered shepherds, or the voice and direction of the "Good Shepherd"? (John 10:11; John 10:14; 1 Peter 2:25).

Our challenge is to avoid the mistake of the sheep who blindly followed one another over the cliff. We must make it our daily purpose to ask ourselves: Are we listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd — are we truly following Him? (Luke 9:23)

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us Thine we are. —W.B. Bradbury

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets